NovoNews 008 by Central Coast Newspapers

NOVONEWS

ISSUE 008 NOVEMBER 2021

NovoNews

Novocastrians are being encouraged to enjoy the Newcastle Ocean Baths this summer before the iconic 1920s pool closes to undergo significant upgrades. See page 2

NovoSociety

Lord Mayoral Q&A series The NSW Local Government elections will be held on December 4. In this series, we dive into some of the Newcastle candidates’ policies, priorities and plans. See pages 6 to 11

University of Newcastle researchers have received more than $1M in funding from the Heart Foundation, helping to support their studies into the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease. See page 13

NovoCulture

Community can’t afford to drop its guard against COVID: Craven Singer-songwriter Natalie Davis will release her first EP on November 5. See page 23

NovoSport

Lambton cricketer Aidan Cahill has received a Basil Sellers Scholarship, allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming an elite cricketer. See page 24

As Newcastle slowly starts to reopen after lockdown, health experts are urging the community to stay vigilant, socially distance and continue to follow COVIDsafe rules. Hunter New England Health COVID-19 medical controller Dr Paul Craven said it was “unbelievably good” to see so many people vaccinated. He said the more people vaccinated, the less pressure there was on the healthcare system. “Last year, we had general fear because we had never seen anything like it before, and people were really scared, but now our staff are vaccinated and fit tested for protective masks and are all properly trained to care for patients with COVID-19,” Dr Craven said. “It’s a totally different feel from last year. Vaccines have made the most

significant impact out of anything. We are seeing way fewer people on ventilators. “The majority of the people coming into hospital are unvaccinated.” Dr Craven said 65 per cent of people who had presented to Hunter New England Health hospitals with COVID-19 were unvaccinated, 25 per cent had only one dose, and 15 per cent were doublevaccinated. “The vaccine is working amazingly. It is keeping most people out of the hospital. But there are still people in our community who are chronically ill with other conditions, which makes them vulnerable to COVID-19,” he said. Dr Craven said the region’s vaccine rates had nearly hit 80 per cent double dose and 92 per cent single dose, however the Hunter region was still contributing to almost a quarter of the state’s daily COVID-19 cases.

“I think it would be fair to say the Hunter region still has large numbers of people who are testing positive for See page 12

For all stories scan here

Newcastle’s COVID-19 updates - See page 11

Office: 2 Dick Street, Newcastle West 2302 - Phone: 0491 012 983 - E-mail: editorial@novonews.com.au - Website: novonews.com.au

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How council plans to counter lockdown’s economic impact The latest COVID lockdown is estimated to have cost the City of Newcastle around $8.5M, and council is set to ramp up its infrastructure program to reignite the local economy. The combination of the financial impact of the lockdown and the economic stimulus package is set to reduce council’s operating result from continuing operations to a surplus of just $2.153M. The impact of COVID-19 on council’s forecast income was felt in areas such as: • $2.6M reduction in income caused by waste trucks from Sydney being locked out of the Summerhill Waste Management Centre. • $2M loss of ticket sales from the closure of the Civic Theatre and other City facilities. • $1M reduction in parking meter revenue. • $1.3M reduction in parking tickets. • $600,000 reduction from bookings to the Stockton Holiday Park. To stimulate the local economy, City of Newcastle proposes to increase this year’s infrastructure program by $14M. The additional infrastructure work would be funded from the City of Newcastle’s cash reserves.

City of Newcastle administrative building Photo: Hayley McMahon

CEO Jeremy Bath said, like many other businesses and organisations, they too had been significantly affected by COVID-19. “We are fortunate that, despite the impacts of COVID, we have been able to manage these financial setbacks without them threatening the

sustainability of the organisation or requiring us to consider other measures such as rate increases or reduced staffing levels,” Bath said. “Prudent economic management has enabled us to cope with this economic downturn, while our decision to increase our works program to a record $104.7

million will stimulate the local economy, provide enhanced facilities for our community and create new employment opportunities, with every one million dollars we spend generating about 10 new local jobs. “Importantly, the budget will continue to be fully funded from the City’s cash reserves, which have been built on the back of six years of strong financial management and surpluses.” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that despite the significant budget strain, they would still provide targeted responses and support for those in need. “Council unanimously voted in August to move forward with additional COVID support measures, including rapid response grants to support our vulnerable community members, business training and mentoring programs and economic development and community grants,” Cr Nelmes said. “We have also boosted our 2021/22 works program by more than $14 million to a record $104.7 million, which will support the local economy and help create new jobs.” Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle

Summer swansong for old ocean baths Novo News is published monthly by Community News Partners Pty Ltd (CNP), an independent, family-owned business. CNP aims to serve the interests of the community in three important ways: 1. To fulfill the ultimate purpose of the free press in a democracy, that is, to hold powerful interests to account through high-quality, independent journalism without fear or prejudice; 2. To provide an affordable medium for local businesses to advertise their products and services, including discounted rates for eligible not-for-profit organisations; and, 3. To keep the community informed about local issues and ensure important public notices are available to ALL members of the community irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances. Our content is originated through both our own team of local journalists as well as external sources, including media releases, websites and public notices. All our news content is subject to strict editorial standards which are available on our website. Wherever possible, our news includes source lines that provide information about where information was sourced so that readers can judge for themselves the veracity of what they are reading. All requests for advertising should be directed to editorial@novonews.com.au. Advertising rates are impacted by three key things: – the size of the advertisement, e.g. a half-page or a one-quarter page; the number of editions that the advertisement runs; and the number of newspapers (one, two or three) in which the advertisement is run. NovoNnews offers significant discounts for advertisements that run over multiple editions and across multiple newspapers – see novonews.com.au We also offer discounts for not-for-profit organisations and other community groups. Advertisers are invited to talk to us about becoming a DIGITAL PARTNER, which provides exclusive opportunities to promote your product, services or events on our digital platform as well. If you would like to be a DIGITAL PARTNER please email us at editorial@novonews.com.au

Publisher: Ross Barry - Editor - David Abrahams Design & Production: Justin Stanley, Lucillia Eljuga - Sub Editor: Gina Cranson Journalists: Hayley McMahon, Maia O’Connor, and Jayden Fennell Office: 2 Dick Street, Newcastle West 2302 - Phone: 0491 012 983 E-mail: editorial@novonews.com.au Website: novonews.com.au Social:

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Novocastrians are being encouraged to enjoy the Newcastle Ocean Baths this summer before the iconic 1920s pool closes to undergo significant upgrades. City of Newcastle has awarded the upgrade contract for the Stage 1 works to Daracon Contractors Pty Ltd. The six tenders were assessed against a range of criteria and a recommended construction program that would limit disruption and impact on baths users. City of Newcastle Acting Director of Infrastructure and Property Joanne Rigby said Daracon had “significant experience in large construction projects, and their response to the tender demonstrated a thorough understanding of the construction requirements”. The baths will be open for one last summer before its temporary closure in early 2022. Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the community would be able to enjoy it throughout the upcoming holiday period in line with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. “Newcastle Ocean Baths turns 100 next year, and while this upgrade is well needed, starting construction after this coming summer means locals who have been staying home and visitors itching

to get back to Newcastle can enjoy the space over the holidays.” She said the required upgrade to pools, lower promenades and the pumping system was significant, which meant construction would continue through to Autumn 2023. “This summer, I encourage everyone to visit Newcastle Ocean Baths and enjoy this iconic local facility before it undergoes a generational upgrade and is returned, improved for the community in 2023.” Stage 1 of the project involves upgrades to the pools and lower promenade and critical safety, accessibility and water-quality issues. The revitalisation includes a renewed boardwalk, a new pump station, and significant improvements for people with a disability or low mobility. The undulating rock bottom of the pool will be capped with concrete to improve safety and water quality. Sand will continue to build upon the floor by the same processes as today. The iconic bleacher seating will also be retained with other elements around the Ocean Baths that complement the historic features. For more information visit the City of Newcastle website. Hayley McMahon

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NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE 007

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City shows support for Afghan refugees Australia evacuated thousands of people from Kabul after Afghanistan’s capital fell to the Taliban in August, and 76 of those Afghan refugees arrived in Newcastle soon after. SSI (Settlement Services International) and NSS (Northern Settlement Services) have been facilitating the resettlement in Newcastle, and Reverend Doctor Rod Pattenden from Adamstown Uniting Church has also been playing a part in welcoming our new residents. “We are helping to collect vouchers so they can purchase food and suitable clothing for their kids,” he said. The community response has been heartening. Afghan refugee and former coach of the Afghan women’s football team Khorsand Yousofzai said he was looking forward to the future here. “Many thanks to the Newcastle community for your generous donations,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to buying some much-needed essential items and start my new life here in Australia.” Helen Larkin is the regional coordinator for the Newcastle and the Hunter Humanitarian Settlement Program division with SSI, who has been overseeing Afghan refugees settle in Newcastle. “SSI Newcastle work with refugees for up to 18 months for their on-arrival needs,” she said. “In the first week they arrive we work through initial needs – what do you need to live in Australia? “We start the process with on-arrival

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon and Reverend Dr Rod Pattenden are encouraging the community to donate to the new families in Newcastle Photo: Adamstown Uniting Church

accommodation, we help with opening bank accounts, applying to Medicare, a tax file number, linking to Australian services for benefits, enrolling children in schools, enrolling adults in English programs, further education whether that is a trade or university, money management skills. “By teaching these skills it helps with the long-term goals.” While Afghan refugees who fled Kabul are still in the early stages of settling in Newcastle, Larkin said things were going well.

“It is so rewarding watching families reunite, especially with family members who have been kept apart for such a long time with travel restrictions, the ones who returned to Afghanistan preCOVID and were unable to return to Australia, permanent residents who are now back after all this time, it is so beautiful to see,” she said. “The permanent residents and new arrivals who have seen the devastation in Kabul are concerned for the ones left behind and are wondering what will happen to them.”

Larkin said the response from the local community so far had been overwhelming. “I have received so many phone calls offering support, accommodation and a ‘how can we help?’ approach,” she said. “I believe this situation has really tugged on the heartstrings of our local community.” Adamstown Uniting Church has been accepting donations and “handing donations over to SSI to go into the hands of refugees,” Rev Dr Pattenden said. “So far, we have had over $10,000 in vouchers given, but between 76 people that goes a little way to covering their basic needs so we are still looking for more donations. “It’s a good way to express welcome to people who have literally just gotten off the plane from Kabul. “They’ve got nothing, so it’s a great expression of Australian welcome and hospitality.” Now that the on-arrival needs have been met, SSI is moving on to wider goals for clients such as sports programs, swimming lessons, digital literacy and education. “We are still appealing for monetary donations from the community, where people can donate through our website,” Helen Larkin said. “Rest assured, Novocastrian donations through our website will go directly to refugees settling in Newcastle. “Locals can also volunteer with our organisation to help these people integrate into our community.” Jayden Fennell and Maia O’Connor

Newcastle’s newest citizens welcomed online The City of Newcastle welcomed its largest number of new citizens yet via group virtual ceremonies on October 5. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions impacting the traditional face-to-face ceremony, council opted to bestow Australian citizenship virtually via Zoom following the success of previous online services. There were 190 individuals from 39 different countries who took the pledge of commitment in two separate ceremonies presided over by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen. Cr Nelmes said becoming an Australian citizen was not only a significant ceremonious occasion, but a step towards applying for jobs and an Australian passport, as well as exercising the democratic right to vote. “The COVID-19 global pandemic has displaced many people in many different ways, be it through job losses or a reduction in work, illness, or separation from loved ones,” Cr Nelmes said. “Adapting our face-to-face citizenship ceremonies to online was a simple measure City of Newcastle could take to provide practical support to our new citizens at this challenging time.” Newcastle’s newest citizens hail from all corners of the globe, from Afghanistan

Some of Newcastle’s newest citizens and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes on Zoom Photo: Supplied

and Iran to Sri Lanka and South Africa. Among them was English-born Steve Barretto, who was raised in South Africa and moved to Ireland when he was 19. Steve met his now wife Nadine from Newcastle in Belfast and relocated to Newcastle in 2008 to start a family. “Newcastle is the best place in the world, without a doubt. I remember as a kid watching cricket and wondering what it would be like to live in Australia,” he said after the ceremony. “I’m really happy it’s all official. I’ll be

having a little lockdown celebration at home with my family tonight, with some beers I have in the fridge and a meat pie.” Newcastle is home to refugees and people of all cultural backgrounds. More than 14,000 constituents speak another language at home and 14 per cent of Novocastrians were born overseas. To support Newcastle’s newest citizens in 2021, the City of Newcastle has granted Rapid Response funding to

Hunter Multicultural Communities to assemble welfare packs and to produce a multilingual newsletter. An additional $13,000 in Quick Response funding was also awarded to STARTTS to assist in the organisation of the city’s Unity and Diversity Festival, Afghan Community Festival, Congolese Community Festival and Syrian Community Festival. Information source: Media release, City of Newcastle

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Merewether Golf Club welcomes retirement resort approval

Artist’s impression of The Merewether Photo: Supplied

A $120M retirement resort overlooking Merewether Golf Course has been approved by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel. The Merewether, catering for over 55s, will have 148 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments spanning four separate buildings, including 16 penthouses with rooftop spa terraces overlooking the golf course. Merewether Golf Club provided a 99year lease of the development land to retirement living developer ThirdAge. Club President Phil Merrigan said the

project would secure the club’s longterm financial future. “This project delivers funding to support significant investment in the golf course and the club’s infrastructure and facilities,” Merrigan said. “We have been able to realise our vision of a world-class golfing facility and retirement living precinct without having to reduce the size of the course.” He said the golf course would remain open for members, community golfers and visitors to keep enjoying. The Merewether will feature a lap pool, cinema, gym, workshop, communal

kitchen and craft rooms. Golf club and community members will benefit from a new clubhouse, restaurant facilities, sports bar and a wellness centre. ThirdAge director Luke Berry said the project would bring a new style of retirement living to Newcastle. “The project will create more than 1000 construction jobs and close to 100 ongoing jobs, which is great news for the local economy as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Berry said. “The Merewether is all about enjoying the best of Newcastle’s great lifestyle

and community with a concierge, resident events such as gala dinners, and classes in cooking, yoga and pilates. “And, of course, the beautiful championship Merewether Golf Course is on residents’ doorstep.” Construction could start as early as mid next year, and ThirdAge will soon call for construction tenders. New residents could be in their homes by mid 2024. People can register interest at themerewether.com.au. Information source: Media release

James Street Plaza lights up Hamilton

James Street Plaza, Hamilton, and the new lighting activation

The interactive lighting display at James Street Plaza is now complete, helping celebrate Hamilton’s colourful and unique history. The interactive light display was developed as part of the City of Newcastle’s makeover of the community space. The launch of the lighting display was the final step in upgrading the plaza, which now has new seating, paving,

landscaping, and artworks installed. In June, the community was asked to vote on their favourite of three lighting designs put forward by the University of Newcastle’s Future Art Science & Technology Lab (FASTLab). The “Microcosmic Mosaic” concept proved to be the favourite and was developed into a 10-minute animation. The animation plays on a loop, lighting up the space for four hours each evening, celebrating Hamilton’s unique character and history.

Hamilton local Saul Sullivan said the changes were a well-overdue addition to the suburb. “[James Street Plaza] has always been a bit of a questionable area, so it’s great that it’s undergone a facelift so the community can use it to its full potential.” Councillor Carol Duncan said the lighting display would activate the space at night and improve safety in the area. “The community told us they wanted a safer, more appealing place for people

Photo: Supplied

to spend time during both the day and the night,” Cr Duncan said. “Once COVID-19 restrictions lift, we look forward to seeing the community come together and activate the space with music, markets and food.” In addition, the history of Hamilton is also reflected in artworks in the renewed plaza, informed by the research of local historian Ruth Cotton and through collaboration with the Newcastle Museum. Hayley McMahon

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NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE 007

OVONEWS

Elliott suspended as council election looms Councillor Kath Elliott (Newcastle Independents) is suspended for six weeks for leaking an investigative report to the media detailing confidential code of conduct complaints against her. The NSW Government’s Office of Local Government (OLG) issued the order on October 8. The OLG confirmed it had suspended Cr Elliott from Newcastle City Council after finding that she had engaged in “deliberate misconduct” and had “fallen short of the standards expected of councillors”. Cr Elliott, who represents Ward 2, was recently announced as the Newcastle Independents’ candidate for Ward 4 in the Local Government Election on December 4, replacing controversial councillor Allan Robinson. The period of suspension is due to end just days before the election. Cr Elliott told NovoNews last month she believed there were “administrative errors in the judgment” of the suspension, and she would “be appealing through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal based on these errors”. OLG Coordinator General Kiersten Fishburn found Cr Elliott had intentionally provided the following to the media: confidential details of at least 12 code of conduct complaints with Cr Elliott being the subject of the complaints; excerpts of transcripts of interviews of identified individuals; her own submissions in relation to a number of

Suspended Councillor Kath Elliott Photo: Kath Elliott Facebook page

code of conduct complaints; and information that identified the individuals who made the complaints. “Clr Elliott has had code of conduct training on three occasions and would therefore be expected to fully understand the standards of behaviour that are required of her,” Fishburn’s statement read. “Instead, in her (Elliott’s) submission, she stated that she had the right to provide the information to the media in order to defend herself, even if her conduct was contrary to the Code. “The [reprimand and suspension] penalty reflects the seriousness of the matter, the failure by Clr Elliott to acknowledge that her behaviour undermined the Code [of Conduct] and the reputation of council, and the fact that the breach was done knowingly.” The six-week suspension is only the

third to be imposed on any NSW councillor during this current term. Ward 2 Councillor Carol Duncan confirmed in a Labor media release last month that Cr Elliott had engaged a solicitor to threaten Cr Duncan with defamation in April 2020. “In September 2019, I was asked to provide evidence to an independent investigator appointed for a confidential Code of Conduct complaint related to Cr Elliott,” Cr Duncan said. “An article appeared in the Newcastle Herald on 28 April 2020 that identified me and extracts from my confidential interview with the investigator. “An editorial was also published by the Newcastle Herald on the topic on the same day. “Coincidentally, at 4.33pm on 28 April 2020, that same day, I received an email from solicitors representing Ms Elliott containing a letter referring to the Herald article and threatening defamation action as well as insinuating that I leaked the confidential report.” Cr Duncan stated that at the time, she “did not know who leaked the confidential report to the media” and said the published article had given some people the impression that she had leaked the document. “In suspending Ms Elliott, the OLG made it clear that it was Ms Elliott who leaked the confidential report to the Newcastle Herald,” Cr Duncan said. Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said it “beggars belief that she (Elliott) would still be seeking re-election to

council with the full support of John Church and the Newcastle Independents party whilst suspended for misconduct”. Independent candidate for Lord Mayor and Ward 1 Councillor John Church told NovoNews that Cr Elliott had his full support. “Kath has my full support as our Ward 4 candidate and will use the time to campaign hard for re-election on a platform of open and transparent government and no party politics,” Cr Church said. “Cr Elliott has long campaigned to improve accountability and transparency at Newcastle Council. “She believes the community has a right to know how people’s rates are being spent and whether residents are getting value for money. “She successfully campaigned to uncover the multimillion-dollar overspend on the fit-out of the new admin building, which council resisted releasing for more than 18 months. “Her dogged and persistent pursuit of transparency compares with council’s track record over the past four years. “I have concerns that the frequent engagement of the code-of-conduct process can serve to limit healthy and robust debate. “Questions need to be asked why the investigation took more than 15 months, and the findings have only now been released, just weeks before the Local Government Election.”

Meeting Room Hire with a difference Our unique space has attracted a wide range of Newcastle businesses from the day we opened our doors. Once people get a glimpse of what is inside (often from having a sticky beak through the café window) they are eager to be a part of it. People generally want their business to soak up the Rethink Your Workspace vibe, so from early on we have agreed to share our space with others that love it as much as we do. We now also hire out our space for businesses and groups looking for the unique setting that Rethink Your Workspace offers. We have held all types of sessions in the space, including; workshops, team building days, think tank sessions, planning sessions, recruitment drives, and business collaboration meetings. We offer Full Day, Half Day & Hourly rates in a range of styles and sizes: There are 6 rooms and 2 boardrooms available for hire 5 days per week. A major drawcard for our space is our inhouse café, which offers amazing coffee and delicious food.

2 Dick Street, Newcastle West - 4962 4440 - rethinkyourworkspace.com.au

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series Greens candidate John Mackenzie Q.

How long have you lived in Newcastle? Tell us about your history with the city.

The NSW Local Government elections will be held on December 4. In this series, we dive into some of the Newcastle candidates’ policies, priorities and plans. Find out what they believe are the city’s greatest assets, what they think needs improving and why they want to be your Lord Mayor. make this city carbon neutral by 2044?

We moved to Newcastle a bit over a decade ago. We were looking for a place for our family, and we settled here. We are very happy to have made this our permanent home. We have some young kids that are just getting on school age. It’s a great place for young families like ours, so we are definitely here for the long haul.

What are your interests outside of work? How do you manage your spare time?

Well, there isn’t heaps of spare time! But I try and keep active. I also have some hobbies like bush regeneration work, which is a fancy way of saying weeding. I’m a bit of a homebody and spend a fair bit of time playing board games and other sorts of family activities. I try and keep my mind off politics now and again.

What did you get up to in your early career?

I started in academia. I was a university lecturer and researcher in the area of policy research and political science. That took me to various locations around the country, working on policy issues, particularly around natural resource management and some of the thorny issues with water management in Australia.

Even in your early career, you were focused on environmental matters. Is this what influenced you to become a Greens councillor?

I was pretty active locally on issues in the community, particularly around the fourth coal terminal (Port Waratah Coal Services Terminal 4) and some of the issues surrounding the health impacts of the coal train line. I live in one of the rail side suburbs, and we have been observing some of those local impacts. So it was a fairly natural progression to go from being someone who was organising in the community to being someone who could actually represent the community in the council chamber.

What do you think of Newcastle and its people?

When we decided to live here and make Newcastle our home, I think one of the main attractors was the good quality of life and the liveability of Newcastle. We have all of the opportunities of a large city with a small community’s natural beauty and

Lord Mayoral candidate and councillor John Mackenzie Photo Supplied

social catchment. So I think those liveability elements of our city is worth cherishing and protecting.

If elected, what will be your number one priority? Can you outline a few plans and policies that you would like to see come to fruition?

There are two things that I’m particularly focused on. One is housing affordability. We have seen an enormous change in the housing market, even in the last 12 months. Newcastle has gone from being a place where Novocastrians could expect to afford a house to a place where buying a house is not necessarily achievable. The rental market is almost non-existent for working people, much less for students and young families. Our crisis accommodation services have never been so stretched. Looking at reforming housing into a more available and more affordable concept has to be the number one priority of the next term of council. The other aspect, which I’m really focused on, is preparing for the transition associated with climate change. We have done some really great work in Newcastle. We were the first council in NSW to go 100 per cent renewable energy, but that’s just the start. There are so many other aspects of our transport and waste management sector that need to transform for us to become a carbon-neutral city by 2044. It’s no good arriving in 2044 and expecting things to have changed. The work to get there has to start now. The council has a key role at that local level in making those changes necessary for this city to get there.

What can be done at a local government level to

I think the role of local government is really about bringing together industries, the community, the unions and education institutes and start to map out the transition together. For example, the Greens have talked a lot about setting up a Newcastle Transition Authority. I don’t think the council drives that process, but I think what we do is create the opportunity for all of the stakeholders involved in the solution to come together and map out that pathway. We need to make sure that we are prepared for the decline of the coal industry. We need to make sure that we are moving towards industries with a sustainable future, and we need to make sure that no one gets left behind in that process. No single agency or institution can do that on its own. So, I think the council’s role is to take that leadership position and bring everyone to the table, where we can map out that pathway together as a community.

What areas of the city do you think need significant improvement and attention?

I think this is an interesting question, particularly in the lockdown circumstances. These lockdowns brought people back to their local areas, back in their homes and back in their local communities. For some people, that was really great, they had lovely open spaces, cycleways and great local services, but that’s not true across the whole of the city. Some places don’t have good parks, playgrounds or open spaces, and I think people rightfully noticed that much more keenly than they had preCOVID. So, we need to make sure that no matter your postcode, you have access to all of those quality of life improvements and amenities that make living in Newcastle so great. It shouldn’t just be for the people who live in the inner city, close to the CBD. Those kinds of services, facilities and amenities should be available to everyone in all of our postcodes. I think the balance has to be struck. We can’t have all projects focused on one area of the city. Don’t get me wrong, that’s still important. The city needs new infrastructure to meet the needs of the population, but it can’t be at the expense of maintaining our existing infrastructure. We can’t have doors coming off of the change rooms

at our sports grounds in the outer suburbs but then have big flash new developments in the inner city. We need to get that balance right.

asset?

What do you Newcastle’s

think is greatest

Newcastle’s greatest asset is its people. We have so much talent here and an extraordinary, entrepreneurial and creative community. We are attracting incredible young people to this city, so we need to make sure that we provide the right kinds of services and quality of life to support this. We need to make the most of that asset and hold onto the people and community that make this place better.

What are your reasons behind running for Lord Mayor?

I bring a particular approach to the council, which is around consensus. What I’ve learnt in the nearly five years that I’ve been on council is there’s a real opportunity for the Lord Mayor position to be someone who can bring together the diverse voices in the council chamber and work towards a better outcome for the city. I think it’s important to recognise that we need to have different perspectives represented if we are to make this city as great as possible.

It could be assumed that being Lord Mayor would be a 24-hour job. Are you prepared for that commitment?

It’s the most extraordinary form of community service that you could imagine. It’s a real honour and privilege to be in that position and have that platform to help shape the city. At its best moments, the council chamber is a place where 13 people do their absolute best and hardest work to make Newcastle as good as it can be. In those moments, it is a wonderful place to be. I’m not pretending that it’s like that all of the time, but in some ways, you have to accept the theatrics and the argy-bargy because of the opportunities that it has. If all 13 of us are doing our absolute best work, then we are all helping improve Novocastrians’ lives.

How do you think you differ from your fellow Lord Mayoral candidates?

I think my approach is more around consensus building. My main goal is to recognise that everybody in that chamber has been elected to represent the different views of the community. So I think more than anything else, it’s important to ensure that those views are represented, taken into consideration, and we have all reached an evidencebased, community-supported solution together. Hayley McMahon

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series Liberal candidate Jenny Barrie Q.

How long have you lived in Newcastle?

I have lived in Newcastle for 32 years, since 1989 when I moved here to start an exciting new business, the Johnny Young Talent School, which had 400 students enrolled.

What can you tell NovoNews readers about your family/family life?

I have two adult children and five beautiful grandchildren, all born in Newcastle. I have two brothers (I am the middle sister), and we are a very close family with our mum, my role model, still in our lives.

Your interests outside of work? Any hobbies? Do you manage to have any spare time? If so, what do you like to do in it?

I am the president of the Hunter Business Lions Club, Newcastle Music Festival Committee member and Smokva (Figtree) Community Garden treasurer at Wickham. We are very fortunate to have an amazing natural setting for our city, and I am a huge fan of walking and swimming at one of our many beautiful beaches, if I can find a car park. I have always had a strong passion for advocating for the needs of my community, and from that came my interest in politics.

What did you do early in your career?

I have had a really interesting journey, having worked in advertising, sales and marketing at a Central Coast newspaper. I then sought to run my own businesses, helping to launch the Johnny Young Talent School in 1989-1995, in Hunter Street, Newcastle, as one of its company directors. Then, after my children were born, I kick-started my own business, Jennifer Barrie Enterprises Pty Ltd. I became a community economic development consultant, specialising in event management. I helped councils, chambers of commerce and not-for-profit groups to stage largescale community festivals and events. For example, I worked closely with Darby Street Precinct Committee, staging many Darby Street Festivals and the inaugural Darby Street Coffee Festival. I also had a hand in helping to run the spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks events at Warners Bay Foreshore. In 1998, I helped to start the Music in The Podium with the

Liberal Lord Mayoral candidate Jenny Barrie Photo: Supplied

Chamber of Commerce on Warners Bay Foreshore, which I coordinated every Friday night for 11 years in daylight savings time. I then worked for Hunter Life Education until 2016 and for St Vincent de Paul Society from 20172021, staging Vinnies CEO Sleepouts and Community Sleepouts in the historic Maitland Gaol and one in Tweed Heads to raise funds for disadvantaged people and homeless services. Q. What is your current profession? How will this guide you in the role of mayor? I am the site manager of Electrodry Storage Solutions at Bennetts Green, where I oversee the day-to-day operations of a 450unit complex. After running small businesses for more than two decades, I have developed many skills that will help me work with council staff, councillors, residents, businesses and community groups and help resolve difficult financial issues. All of my previous roles have been about helping people. If elected, I will passionately advocate for better services and infrastructure for our ratepayers and businesses. My experience in the NFP sector will guide how I work with our community groups to achieve cost savings on council to allow more funding for community-based projects and services for residents. I will also work with the Liberal State and Federal Governments to attract more support and investment into our city.

What do you think of Newcastle and its people?

Newcastle is an amazing and breathtaking city, which I’m proud to call home, where we have some of the best surf beaches, lovely parks and heritage buildings. Newcastle Harbour is one of my favourite places to sit and relax or catch the ferry to the Stockton Foreshore to enjoy the picturesque Nobbys Headland and the continuous movement of ships. wcastle has rich architectural history, with majestic buildings like the recently renovated Newcastle Town Hall and our two

wonderful cathedrals, just to name a few. In addition, we boast many great spots for families and tourists, from Civic Park and Blackbutt Reserve to King Edward Park. After the two years of lockdowns, Newcastle is coming alive again, and we have an unmissable opportunity to make this place even better. For example, I would like to see better use of council-owned buildings to create an arts, music and cultural precinct. Our population is growing very fast, and we need to make sure there are appropriate plans in place to accommodate this growth and preserve our city’s important heritage and character. With many high-rise unit developments planned and recently completed, increasing the density throughout the inner-city suburbs of Newcastle East, Newcastle West and Wickham, and more planned in Adamstown and New Lambton and other suburbs, we will ensure the city and suburbs investment is returned with benefits to the communities who enjoy the lifestyle on offer. The price of real estate in the Lower Hunter has risen dramatically as people are relocating from Sydney in droves to enjoy our enviable lifestyle, but that has meant that affordable housing is in very short supply. Additionally, with many residents downsizing as they reach retirement age, we need to work with housing providers to ensure we have housing for young families who work in Newcastle and surrounding areas.

If elected, what will be your number one priority? Outline a few plans you would like to see come to fruition and things you will focus on.

If elected, the Liberal team will bring a new vision for the City of Newcastle and will work hard to return the council’s decision making back to the voters, after years of poor transparency and poor decision making. We will work hard to support small businesses to help them recover from the impact of the pandemic and create jobs. In addition, I will make it my personal priority to work with tourism operators and travel industry stakeholders to help attract more visitors to this beautiful gateway to the Hunter region. I would like to review the Special Business Rate and ensure it is properly used to promote local businesses and invest back into the business areas where the funds are collected. We will also look into better funding for Newcastle City surf clubs. Members and volunteers deserve better facilities than the ones our council has them operating in. We will also look to find a new home for the displaced Maritime Museum, and I would also like to ensure that the Newcastle Showground is preserved for the future.

What areas of the city do you think need significant improvement/attention?

The redevelopment of the Newcastle Mall area, Newcastle Art Gallery, Lambton Pool, and surf clubs all need attention and a refurbishment plan. We need to improve current planning for neglected suburbs. We will also need to review streetscape design to include more street furniture, footpaths, cycleways, urban pocket parks to provide more trees and shade, and more outdoor dining sites. If we are elected, I will work with the NSW Government on planning for better transport connections across the city, as traffic is very congested at times, and there’s increasing demand for public transport and parking options. In addition, I would like to see more walking paths with gym equipment for outdoor exercise. The Liberal team will also invest more in children’s playgrounds, like the popular family destination alongside the Hunter River at Stockton. In addition, we will help to deal with some of the parking issues for residents in unit developments across the city as more young people move into units due to growing house prices.

What is Newcastle’s greatest asset?

We are the best-kept tourism secret on the east coast of NSW, however, not for much longer if I am given a chance to work with our tourism industry, with our beautiful coastline, parks, our bustling Newcastle Harbour and Newcastle’s heritage. There are so many reasons for us to be optimistic about the future of our city to ensure there is an investment into projects that stimulate the local economy and drive change for the betterment of ratepayers, businesses and residents.

What are your reasons behind running for Lord Mayor? Why should voters elect you?

I would like to see a change of direction and create an exciting new vision for the City of Newcastle to ensure there is a postCOVID plan. Newcastle deserves to attract more state and federal funding to help us create more jobs and opportunities for our young people. With my business experience, I will be able to lead our council to deliver better services without unreasonable rate hikes. I am passionate about our community having someone in council who they can trust. I am interested in protecting our natural heritage and reducing waste – both council overspending and green waste recycling initiatives. So, I am very keen to see us introduce the successful Lake Macquarie green waste initiative. Continued page 8

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series tireless advocate for the people of NSW and how she and the Liberal Government supported communities across NSW throughout disastrous bushfires, a long drought, floods, major storms and COVID-19. I have the greatest respect for Gladys, and she has been one of my main role models for many years.

Liberal candidate Jenny Q. Barrie

From page 7

How do you feel about losing Gladys Berejiklian as the first elected female Liberal premier of NSW?

I was very surprised and sad about her announcement. Gladys will be remembered as a

Can you elaborate on the Liberal Party philosophy at the local government level? How would this manifest at the City of Newcastle if elected?

Newcastle City Council has a large budget of approximately $300M. Therefore, all councillors must have good fiscal management experience. We need to ensure tighter control of finances and more transparency and accountability for

As a young man in my 20s I embarked on a radio career. I was a radio announcer and newsreader working in country radio stations in Gunnedah and Tamworth. In Launceston, Tasmania, I started my career in television news reading and then came back home to NBN in Newcastle, where I worked for 25 years as a news presenter and journalist.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am a great user of the Bathers Way walk. I regularly walk from Merewether to Strzelecki or Strzelecki to Nobbys. It’s an absolutely beautiful walk. One of my policies I will be announcing shortly is that I want to extend the Bathers Way walk from the harbour at Carrington Bridge on Cowper Street and create a shared pathway up to the pump house. So that would mean you have the potential to go from the Carrington Pump House all the way to Merewether. That would just be a wonderful circuit

I have the greatest respect for the other candidates and Newcastle councillors for their community-minded desire to serve.

Councillor John Church represents the Newcastle Independents Photo: Newcastle Independents

and would showcase the very best of Newcastle. I also think the yacht club precinct is very exciting and has really added another dimension to our city. I love having breakfast there with friends or dining in Darby Street. So they are the things I like to do in my spare time. I also recognise that we have some fantastic communities with some really interesting offerings like Lambton, New Lambton and Wallsend, which has a vibrant business community and needs to be supported. So, while I have been a Ward 1 councillor, I am also focused on some of those western suburbs.

What changes have you seen in Newcastle and its development as a city?

Over the years, there have been some massive changes. The CBD has shifted from Newcastle East to Newcastle West. We now have high-density high rises and a lot more residences around the centre of the city. We have also seen the growth of the corridors out west at Fletcher and Minmi, which are very important communities to the city. They also pose challenges where we need to create infrastructure and more services for that western corridor. There has also been a diversification of our economy over that time. We were very much heavy engineering,

As a new councillor, I will work diligently on a consensus approach to delivering services and infrastructure that our city needs. I have worked with many Hunter CEOs, and I will use that experience to deal with the current business issues before the council. Our city is home to many successful organisations that employ staff and are the engine room of the city. I will work with them to help build more opportunities and create jobs. I will be a strong advocate for Newcastle to the NSW Liberal Government. I will ensure that it is at the top of the list for all ministers to deliver support and funding for our community and create a better future for our children and grandchildren. Hayley McMahon

What areas of the city do you think need attention and improvement?

Tell us about your history with Newcastle. How long have you lived here?

What did you do in your early career?

How do you see your fellow Lord Mayoral candidates? How do you think you differ from them?

manufacturing and mining focused, and now I think our economy is much more diverse, and I think that diversity makes it more robust. Jobs, particularly youth unemployment, remain in our focus, and I think the council has a role in promoting small and innovative businesses.

Independent candidate John Church Q.

I am a born and bred Novocastrian. I went to school here, as well as university. I’ve opened businesses in Newcastle. My children also grew up here, and all attended the University of Newcastle. We live in a beautiful part of the world, and I think most of us recognise that. Newcastle is a great place to work, live and play, which is why I’m so passionate about it.

the expenditure of ratepayers’ funds. If elected, the Liberal council team will be able to bring excellent budget management skills to bear on the city’s fiscal situation. We will support our businesses with initiatives to reduce waste and red tape, to ensure that rate-paying residents and commercial ratepayers get better service delivery and the ongoing issues with roads, rates and rubbish are resolved.

Over the last four years, there has been a focus on some big new infrastructure projects, which were supported, but it has been at the expense of what we call our infrastructure backlog. So, the council has a large list of assets that it needs to renew and replace because of ageing. We see that in the inland pools, in particular, Lambton Pool, which is one of our most popular and utilised assets, and yet it has been largely neglected for capital works over the last four years. We would like to see a refocusing on that. We would like to see more money spent on some of the basics like potholes, footpaths and cycleways. So what we would be doing in the next term is recalibrating the priorities of the capital works project and be spending 50 per cent on new projects and 50 per cent on looking after the assets we already have. One glaring example is some of our amenities at sporting fields where those buildings and facilities are very old. Some of them are no longer fit for purpose because of the growth in women’s sport particularly.

What would be your number one priority for Newcastle if you did become Lord Mayor?

The city has asset management plans in place that have been developed by the very highly skilled team that we have at the council. These plans have a list of projects that have been prioritised based on utility, need, areas of growth, and proximity to schools, aged care and childcare centres. I would like to see a refocusing on those existing plans. Let’s go back and review them, make sure the

priorities are still right and current, and then get on with the job.

asset?

What do you think is Newcastle’s biggest

Well, the biggest asset is the people of Newcastle. We’ve had everything thrown at us over the years, from the closure of the steelworks, earthquakes, floods, and now the COVID crisis. Yet, the spirit of Newcastle has always been very resilient, and we are a community that cares for each other. The biggest asset of the council is more than 1000 very hardworking, highly skilled staff who do a great job, day in and day out, and often under challenging conditions. Our biggest physical assets are things like our roads, bridges, ocean baths and inland pools. All of those need attention. They aren’t sexy, they aren’t glamorous, but it’s essential that we get back to some of that vital municipal work.

Why do you want to be Lord Mayor?

There is a constituency out there that would like to see politics out of local government, and as an Independent, I can provide that. So we can get back to the job of working collaboratively with our community without following a political agenda.

Newcastle could be labelled as a traditional Labor-voting city. So why should people vote for an Independent candidate?

I’m not going to tell anyone how to vote, and that’s their own decision. They can look at our policies and decide on that merit. We are well represented by Labor in terms of our state and federal members, but this notion that the council has always been a Labor council is not backed by history. Of the last 10 Lord Mayors, I think five have been Independent, and I think it’s actually a good thing for local government to be depoliticised. The local government should be all

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series provides. We don’t need a political party to get the job done. Frankly, we are probably better off not having politics involved, with our main focus on the community’s needs.

Independent candidate Q. John Church A.

Newcastle is in transition from coal to renewable energy. What is your plan for this transition and your stance on the matter?

about quality community candidates who are deeply engaged with the neighbourhood and the issues on the ground. We are right at the coal face of delivering essential services, like garbage services, improving our roads, kerbing, guttering, and great resources like libraries. These are all very important, grassroots services that the council

The council has a strong track record of environmental initiatives. For example, we have the policy to put as many solar panels on council-owned buildings as we can. We have a real focus on water recycling and looking after our water assets. We also focus on investing in Summerhill as our waste management centre in recycling and improving efficiency. My view is, though, we are going to be a community in transition. We will need to rely on coal for many years to come,

How long have you lived in Newcastle?

Q. A.

There’s been a large council focus on the culture and arts community of Newcastle, for example, New Annual that was held in early February. Is this something you would also focus on if elected?

I know that our arts, musicians and performance industries have done it really tough during COVID, and we need to do what we can to provide opportunities for them to earn a living and do the things they do well. The city needs to balance a strong night-time economy and the right of quiet enjoyment of the many residents that live in the CBD. I know that this has been a friction point in the past. We need to resolve that issue with collaboration, negotiation and then some! I’m currently receiving hundreds of emails and messages for assistance and guidance. I’m fortunate to have the support of a great team of very capable Labor councillors. City of Newcastle is a big operation. We employ more than 1000 people and manage a $340M budget. On top of COVID, we’ve been managing our City of Newcastle services to the community and facilities, as well as continuing to plan and deliver our capital works program, which is around $100M for this financial year. Q. If re-elected, what will be your number one priority? Outline a few plans you would like to see come to fruition.

Labor candidate Nuatali Nelmes Q.

I grew up in Newcastle, attending Newcastle East Public School, Newcastle High School, and the University of Newcastle. Growing up on the beaches, parks, sporting fields and unique places of Newcastle has been invaluable in understanding both the challenges and opportunities available to our city. Transforming that local knowledge into positive change that benefits all Novocastrians has been a key ingredient to our success. Tell us a little about your family/family life? Last year we added a little dog named Ginger to our household. Ginger has provided us with lots of joy during lockdown! I’m married to Stuart, with three children – Archie, Stella-Rose and Ruby-Lou. We have been home schooling and working from home since August, our usual weeks are very busy, fitting a hectic work life around lots of afterschool activities. Your interests outside of work? Any hobbies? Do you manage to have any spare time? If so, what do you like to do in it? In my younger years, I was a basketballer; I was fortunate to represent Newcastle and NSW. I still love sports and try to keep active and fit. I go to Newcastle F45, which I find to be a great way to get in a good workout in a timely fashion! I still play netball with Souths! Our family also love to travel. We were

and there’s no need to demonise it, but we need to recognise the transition and get ready for it.

Labor candidate and incumbent Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes Photo: Supplied

very fortunate to get in a family trip to the Great Barrier Reef earlier this year. When able, I also love to see my friends, we always have a lot of fun together. As restrictions ease, I’ve been getting in a few picnics too.

What did you do early in your career?

I’ve had a diverse career, gaining skills that have been invaluable to my role as Lord Mayor. My background is in business and industrial relations. Prior to my time on council, I worked mostly in small business in recruitment and HR. I also worked for the United Workers Union, who represent early childhood educators and cleaners, some of our most underappreciated and underpaid workers. It gave me a real appreciation for people working in essential industries. The COVID-19 global pandemic has shown us just how important the work they do for our community really is.

Do you feel your role as mayor is a 24/7 commitment?

Newcastle is a big city, with a complex set of challenges and opportunities. It’s fair to say that the current COVID-19 situation means the job of Lord Mayor is 24/7 and

My number one priority will be continuing to collaborate. Our success has been in our teamwork. Our high performing Newcastle Labor councillors team will continue the delivery of our ambitious capital works program focused on our COVID recovery. Last year when the global pandemic hit, we took swift action as one of the first government authorities to deliver a comprehensive Community and Economic Resilience Package. We invested more than $10M into the program, which successfully stimulated the local economy, provided support for our most vulnerable Novocastrians and crucially protected hundreds of local jobs. With the impact of lockdowns continuing throughout 2021, we have made the strategic decision to continue to support our community by allocating an additional $14M to further boost our capital works program, ensuring that jobs are protected as we begin to recover from the effects of COVID. This will deliver more upgrades to public infrastructure, like upgraded roads, sporting facilities and environmental measures. Our targeted support for our local not-for-profit sector will see council continuing our efforts providing financial assistance to local service

mediation. But I am concerned about the way that this council has decided that it should be the event manager of a major cultural event. I discovered that the New Annual event lost $619,000 of the ratepayers’ money. Now, is that a worthwhile subsidy? Is that a worthwhile investment for the arts community? Well, that’s for others to decide. We used to support cultural events that would come from the community in a bottom-up approach. The community created the events and cultural activities, and we would partner with them for support. Let us give the control back to the community, and the council can become a willing and active partner. We can help these events in terms of in-kind support by providing venues and also help by injecting some cash into the events. Hayley McMahon

providers to cope with increased urgency and demand for their vital community assistance. We’ve also just announced more than $1.25M of funding to support COVID-affected industries like the arts, entertainment and hospitality sectors to hold events and activations like the return of the Big Picture street art festival. We’ve also ensured the return of the Locally Made and Played grant program, providing support for live music and performance to assist local creatives and venues as restrictions start to further ease.

Reflecting on your past term, is there anything you would change? Things you want to improve on? Things you were disappointed by?

Time and time again I’ve seen that we can get the best outcomes when we collaborate and have a wide range of voices around the decision-making table. Lord Mayor, I have always managed to build relationships, and work with others to get great outcomes for our city. Often, this involves reaching across the political divide to work with conservative Ministers in Sydney and Canberra. Recent successes include the announcement of assistance from the NSW Deputy Premier to address Stockton erosion, the significant improvements I negotiated to the Newcastle Light Rail project, our success in gaining federal support to upgrade the Newcastle Airport, and funding for the business case of the Broadmeadow Hunter Park precinct. It’s disappointing that some councillors have not shared our vision or enthusiasm for the projects we are delivering for our community, instead focusing on themselves or a political agenda. When they go low, we go high.

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Labor candidate Nuatali Nelmes Q.

What are your reasons behind running for Lord Mayor again? Why should voters re-elect you?

Our Labor team has got the job done! Since taking on the Lord Mayoral role, I can confidently say that we’ve got the city moving in a really great direction. That’s evident in the investment and confidence of Novocastrians, our great lifestyle and the resilience of our region. We consulted then established the vision, then set the strategic directions to deliver the projects that Novocastrians are now starting to see the real benefits of. Within council as an organisation, we have done an enormous amount of work to instil a citizen-focused approach. This has been recognised by residents with consecutive improvements in our community satisfaction scores. Newcastle is a city on the move, and Novocastrians know that I’m working hard to deliver for them. We’ve got a lot more hard work to do to see these projects through and I’m dedicated to getting the job done. I’ve got a very strong track record of taking decisive action to get on with the job of renewing our city’s assets and services, while modernising what the city offers to our ratepayers, from the City Centre, right out to our city’s mighty western suburbs.

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series Q. Newcastle is in transition from coal to renewable energy. What is your plan for this transition and your stance on the matter? What can be done at local government level to make this happen most effectively?

Our Newcastle Labor team has focused on improving our natural environment and taking progressive action on climate change. The Newcastle Labor team has delivered a large publicly owned solar farm at Summerhill (Wallsend), a new recycling centre, invested more than $4M to plant new street trees since 2017, and led the city to become the first council in NSW to use 100 per cent renewable energy in its operations from January 1, 2020. We’ve been leading by example and are recognised internationally as a local government leader in addressing climate change and protecting our natural environment. Continuing to lead on environmental issues, including organic waste recycling, while promoting local jobs and diversifying our economy, will remain a focus for a re-elected Labor team. We have recently adopted a Climate Action Plan, which sets out ambitious targets for Net Zero that will continue to drive Newcastle’s emissions down even further. City of Newcastle intends to transition to a fleet of electric vehicles, build operational resilience through additional renewables and battery storage, and switch all city lighting to LED, saving thousands of dollars in electricity and reducing our energy usage. Our Climate Action Plan covers both City of Newcastle operations and Newcastle as a whole to accelerate emission reduction across the city through a suite of sensible and prudent action and initiatives. Working collaboratively with other

progressive organisations, the plan takes advantage of the economic opportunities that arise from a cleanenergy and low-emissions industry landscape. City of Newcastle has formally committed to the Paris Climate Agreement, and we accept there is a global climate emergency. We owe it to our children to prioritise concrete action on climate change. It’s strong actions like those in our Climate Action Plan that I encourage all of our local government colleagues to pursue. With a lack of any significant policy at the Federal Government level, it’s been up to local governments to take strong, decisive and rapid action.

Some councillors and community members have criticised indulgent council spending, specifically around the construction of the administration building. What is your response to these criticisms? Can these expenses be justified?

When they go low, we go high. I’ve found that the community has been really supportive of our new administrative HQ. We used to have our staff work in multiple locations, split across numerous sub-standard buildings, with outdated working arrangements (think limited female bathrooms, no common staff kitchen, and timber desks that hadn’t been upgraded since the 1970s). It was no longer an appropriate workplace for a modern, agile organisation. By choosing to move our staff into a new facility, we have significantly improved the working environment, making the city a much more desirable place to come and work. We’re a modern and agile organisation and we need to be adaptive to our growing city’s needs. In addition, moving also provided

the opportunity to improve our community service offering too. We delivered an award-winning digital library on the ground floor at 12 Stewart Avenue, which welcomed 59,000 visitors in its first year. The new library is always buzzing with energy and programmed for interactive learning among all age groups, from toddlers all the way to seniors. The new City Administration Centre allows our staff to perform their core job of improving our city and suburbs for all Novocastrians, better than they ever could before. Staff can now collaborate, across teams and they have a much better COVID-safe working environment, which ultimately makes our teams more productive for our ratepayers. Very significantly, the new City Administration Centre now also houses the Newcastle/Hunter region’s Local Emergency Operations Centre (LEOC). This facility is a critical part of this region’s response to emergencies and disasters and has been in use during the pandemic to coordinate the city’s response alongside emergency services and NSW Health. Finally, it’s worth noting that the move enabled our people to work seamlessly from home when required during COVID because we had the right processes and technology in place. Not all councils were as prepared, with our peers needing to stand down staff while they worked through these issues. Unfortunately, my political opponents have chosen to ignore the above, issuing relentless negative criticism including releasing false and inflated numbers. Moving to 12 Stewart Avenue is an investment in our people that is already returning dividends for all Novocastrians.

How do you see your fellow Lord Mayoral candidates? How do you think you differ from them?

I’m part of a great team. My achievements as Lord Mayor are only possible with the support and collaboration of the great group of Labor councillors that share the load and the amazing staff that serve our community with dedication. I can say with confidence that the Newcastle Labor team has been delivering for Newcastle. We work as a high-functioning team dedicated to public service and together we have literally transformed Newcastle over the last seven years. I proudly stand behind my track record of delivery as the city’s Lord Mayor since 2017, and as a councillor since 2008. I bring significant experience to the role, passion for social justice coupled with relentless advocacy for our fair share.

Full Q&A at novonews.com.au Hayley McMahon

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Lord Mayoral Q&A series A.

We want to put the interests of residents first, rather than those of big developers. Long-time Ward 1 residents, for example, are being priced out of their neighbourhoods as developers take over. So we don’t support more rate rises. Another “people first” idea is to promote a healthier city through better public transport and cycleways connections and free council pools. I’m also standing as a councillor in Ward 1 with running mates who work in people-centred professions: Associate Professor Samantha Ashby is an occupational therapist who lives in Mayfield, and Darcy Lemmich is an aged care nurse who lives in Hamilton.

Socialist Alliance candidate Steve O’Brien

How long have you lived in Newcastle?

After growing up in Broken Hill, I took a “short-term” job at the BHP’s Newcastle steelworks and ended up working there for about 10 years. So I’ve lived in Newcastle for about 40 years now.

Steve O’Brien is running for Lord Mayor of Newcastle as well as Ward 1 councillor Photo: Supplied

Tell us a little about your family/family life?

recently elected as a NSW Vice President of the State Public Services Federation.

My partner and I both come from big families where working together mattered more than possessions. Last year we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We are blessed with two children who, like most young adults, are grappling with the difficult realities of securing affordable housing. I’m fortunate to have a partner who shares my world view and kids who put up with an activist father.

Your interests outside of work? Any hobbies? Do you manage to have any spare time? If so, what do you like to do in it?

I’ll read just about anything, and I also like to write. I’ve studied Spanish most of my life and love practising with Latin American and Spanish friends. I follow the local soccer. During the lockdown, we rehomed a feisty old Dachshund. I enjoy our daily walks as she sniffs around the lanes and parks of Newcastle East, where we live.

What did you do early in your career?

After BHP, I worked in Work Health and Safety, information management and spent 10 years working in development with poor communities in Latin America and Southern Africa. I’ve often served as the union delegate in my work, and from this, I’ve learned a lot about listening, organising and negotiating. I was

What is your current profession? How will this guide you in the role of mayor?

I’m a librarian in TAFE and teach Social Policy and Sociology as a casual academic. These experiences, plus the qualifications I’ve gained along the way (PhD in Health Sociology, Master of Fine Art, Diplomas in Information Management and Project Management) have helped me to see issues from various perspectives. I’ll put these skills to work in the role of mayor to provide positive and just outcomes for the community.

What is the Socialist Alliance, and what do they represent for those who may not know?

Socialist Alliance supports a more social and communityfocused society, rather than extreme individualism and the excesses of “dog eat dog” capitalism. Our activist centre, the Newcastle Resistance Centre, is in Hunter Street. The mural on the Honeysuckle-facing wall of the centre sums us up pretty well: For the billions, not the billionaires. Within the council, this translates to councillors who would be focused on equity of services and our policies as set out in our People Before Profit Campaign.

What is the People Before Profit Campaign?

What do you think of Newcastle and its people?

I love that Newcastle people don’t take injustice lightly. I admire anyone “having a go” on behalf of their communities: campaigners who kept Stockton and Mayfield swimming pools open, the bathers fighting to save the Newcastle Ocean Baths and its natural features, residents and businesses campaigning against the Supercars race, communities along the rail line fighting to get coal trains covered and dust levels monitored. I also admire local activists such as those campaigning for a faster transition from coal to renewable energy, the Save the Link Road environmentalists, Black Lives Matter activists, unionists defending public services and campaigners against poverty and gender-based violence.

If elected, what will be your number one priority? Outline a few plans you would like to see come to fruition and things you will focus on.

My number one priority will be to push for council to tackle big issues such as affordable housing actively. I support ideas like rent control and making big developers contribute to providing affordable housing. The council should also act on the climate emergency by planning to phase out the coal loaders and not support emission-producing events like Supercars. These actions would help build a fairer Newcastle.

What areas of the city do you think need significant

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improvement/attention?

We don’t need any more vanity projects. The $30M subsidy to Supercars and the $10M overspend on the new council offices could have been better used to deliver affordable housing, upgrade community shared spaces and measures to transition from fossil fuels. In addition, the coal trains need to be covered, and industrial pollution monitored more transparently.

What is Newcastle’s greatest asset?

Newcastle people’s sense of solidarity and their ability to network and build community. Experience tells us that it is only when we stand up for ourselves that we get listened to.

What are your reasons behind running for Lord Mayor? Why should voters elect you?

We need real consultation, which empowers people and puts people before profits. If we’d had genuine, not just tick and flick consultation, for example, we’d be repairing, rather than remodelling the Ocean Baths, and we wouldn’t have Supercars. I’d also like to reverse the situation where residents in some suburbs seem neglected and overlooked. I also think the Lord Mayor and senior council executives are overpaid and out of touch, so I’d only take an average wage if elected.

How do you see your fellow Lord Mayoral candidates? How do you think you differ from them?

I respect the other candidates and acknowledge their commitment. Nonetheless, they seem to be mainly about “business as usual”. If you believe that we are in a climate emergency and a time of serious social crisis, then you have to think and respond differently and with urgency. Our lowlying suburbs will be at risk of flooding. Many people have no job security and aren’t even sure they can keep a roof over their heads. We need a return to community first values and a U-turn on many policy fronts. I return phone calls, and I am always available on 0490 122 377. Hayley McMahon

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Community can’t afford to drop its guard against COVID: Craven

From page 1 COVID-19, so always assume that anyone around you could have it,” he said. “Now that we are vaccinated and are starting to move around more, we must return to those very simple messages: wear your mask, keep your distance, and if you get sick, please get tested. “I can’t stress that enough.” Dr Craven said there was a considerable decrease in testing across the region. “I think after 20 months, people are fatigued, and it’s really not the time to get fatigued,” he said. “We want to know who’s infected so they can isolate away from the rest of the community. “You might be young, fit and vaccinated, and COVID-19 might feel like a common cold, but that common cold to you is a severe disease for the community’s vulnerable. “We need to stay vigilant and responsible, so we can keep our whole community safe.” The NSW Government’s easing of COVID restrictions may mean a nervous wait for the health sector to see what infection numbers do in the weeks ahead but the freedom measures have brought relief to many local businesses. Chiefly East Sandwiches owner Ali Downer said he was excited to get back to regular business after navigating the complexities of lockdown rules. “We were put in an unusual position last lockdown in that we were forced

Hunter New England Health COVID-19 medical controller Dr Paul Craven Photo: HNE Health

to survive,” he said. “We were trying to keep up with government guidance, but the general information had to be sought after. The government regulations were foggy, to say the least. “We went into battle mode and got on with making ourselves accessible to customers, meaning we grew the business in ways we might never have got around to otherwise.” Downer said they moved to online orders and a takeaway window to reduce the number of people gathering outside. “It pushed us to get more creative with what we could offer and make for our customers, as we wanted to keep things exciting in the food

department,” he said. “In turn, it made us realise what we were good at, and we simplified our offering, making us way more streamlined.” Since restrictions started to ease, Downer said they continued to use their takeaway window and offered an additional outdoor seating area for the fully vaccinated. He said they hadn’t faced any issues with the public, and everyone was following the COVID-19 guidelines. “We still offer a takeaway and online service, so I don’t think it affects us too badly,” he said. “I think the community is pretty passionate about getting back to business.

“Our customer base is very loyal, and I believe most people wanted to get vaccinated to keep our community safe.” Meanwhile, Australians will be offered a vaccine booster shot six months after receiving their second dose. The advice comes after final approval from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI). ATAGI already recommended that severely immunocompromised people receive a third dose, but Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced booster shots would be rolled out to the rest of the adult community as well. Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination was the primary course of protection, and people who had received two doses were considered fully vaccinated. “This is a boost,” he said. “It’s important for those who are at that six-month mark (after receiving both doses) to consider their booster. “It definitely gives extra protection against severe disease, particularly for older Australians and those who are in that vulnerable group. “Those vulnerable people should come forward, healthcare workers should come forward, or anyone who has hit that six-month mark can come forward and get a boost.” The booster program officially started on November 1, but some aged and disability care residents already started receiving their boosters last month. Hayley McMahon

Residents join fight to keep after-hours GP service open Thousands of community members have signed a petition against the closure of the GP Access After Hours service at the Calvary Mater Hospital. Hunter Primary Care was forced to make the decision after six years of Medicare rebate freezes and recent cuts to bulk-billing incentives by the Government. The GP Access After Hours (GPAAH) service will close from Christmas Eve, and the opening hours at the remaining four clinics across the region will be reduced. Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon created the petition yesterday, which has already garnered close to 3000 signatures. Claydon said the decision would be “devastating news” for the many residents who accessed the vital service. “This has been an essential service for tens of thousands of Newcastle families who rely upon bulk-billing GP services to access the healthcare they need when they need it,” Claydon said. “With so few bulk-billing doctors in Newcastle, any further loss of services

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has created a petition against the closure Photo: Sharon Claydon MP

will have a huge impact on these families already faced with high out-of-pocket costs.” She said the GPAAH service reduced unnecessary emergency department

visits and hospitalisations, saving the health system $21.7M every year. “Newcastle has led Australia in the provision of GP Access After Hours services, and the value of our primary

healthcare model is apparent to all,” Claydon said. “Yet here we are again, fighting with State and Federal Liberal Governments to maintain its funding.” Many who signed the petition voiced their concerns about what the closure meant for them and others in the community. “This is such a vital service. For families, it provides after-hours medical advice & care,” one person wrote. “Without it, there’s no option but emergency department and a long wait with young children. This is such a poor decision at a time when hospitals are already overloaded.” “Signed! This is such a vital service (and) to see it go from the Mater is going to affect thousands and just further clog up our emergency departments,” another wrote. Claydon has also written to Minister for Health Greg Hunt urging the Government to provide funding certainty and ensure the provision of primary healthcare services in Newcastle and the Hunter region. Hayley McMahon

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Uni teams funded to further heart disease research University of Newcastle researchers have received more than $1M in funding from the Heart Foundation, helping to support their studies into the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease. Despite improvements in its prevention, diagnosis and treatment, coronary heart disease is still Australia’s single biggest killer. University of Newcastle researchers receiving funding through the Heart Foundation’s 2021 grant scheme include Dr Michelle Bovill, Dr Alice Grady, Professor Jennifer Bowman, Professor Phil Morgan, Professor Tracy Burrows and Dr Tatt Jhong Haw. Researchers are investigating different aspects, preventions, treatments and causations of heart disease. Projects explore childcare-based obesity prevention, addictive and compulsive overeating, and exercise programs that help improve cardiovascular health for Indigenous Australian families. University of Newcastle Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Tatt Jhong Haw and his co-investigator Dr Henry Gomez are exploring the cardiopulmonary impacts of prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke particulate matter and other environmental hazards in regional Australia. Dr Haw said the research into bushfire smoke and its impacts on cardiovascular health was instigated by the devastating Australian bushfires of 2019-2020. “We saw some people who had increased respiratory problems and

Dr Tatt Jhong Haw and Dr Henry Gomez are investigating the cardiopulmonary impacts of prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke particulate Photo: Supplied

complaints of chest issues, so we wanted to find out what research had been done in regards to impacts of bushfires and cardiovascular health,” he said. “To my surprise, not much research had been done at all. “If we specifically look at respiratory diseases such as asthma, there’s hardly any evidence or research into linking bushfire particulate and worsening asthma symptoms. There is generally no consensus on whether bushfire particulate has any impact on the cardiovascular system, so we wanted to explore that.” He said it was particularly concerning for regions like Newcastle and the Hunter, which have additional hazardous

air pollutants like coal mines and trains. “We know that coal dust does have adverse effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular system,” Dr Haw said. “Given the locality of Newcastle and the Hunter region, we really have a population of people that are continuously exposed to coal dust pollutants. “Once devastating bushfires are added to the mix, we have a large population of people who are breathing in particulates that could be having harmful effects on their cardiopulmonary health.” Dr Haw said the funding would help get the project off the ground and fill information gaps around the issue.

“We do not know what the long-term impacts these bushfire pollutants will have on cardiopulmonary health, and this grant will help kickstart that,” Dr Haw said. “Once we have that knowledge, we can become better informed and help those who may suffer from related diseases. “In the future, we will also be able to extend our research and study other natural disasters that produce or carry hazardous particulate matter and the long-term impacts they might be having on our health.” Hayley McMahon

New ambulance station for Medowie The Medowie community is one step closer to gaining its first ambulance station after the preferred location was officially announced. The new purpose-built ambulance station will be at 30 Ferodale Road, providing an optimal location to serve the community. Using best practice demand modelling software that maps triple zero calls, NSW Ambulance and Health Infrastructure was able to identify the new location for the station. Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the announcement provided the community with its first look at the station design. “It’s exciting to see the design for the new ambulance station, which will be a contemporary facility, tailored to the needs of the Medowie community to enable paramedics to continue delivering high-quality emergency healthcare,” Martin said. “The purpose-built station will feature internal parking for up to six emergency

An artist’s impression of the new purpose-built ambulance station at Medowie Photo: Supplied

ambulance vehicles, relief accommodation for paramedics, administration and office areas, logistics and storage areas, an internal wash bay and staff parking. “It will provide a high-quality base for our paramedics and will be equipped to

meet current and future demand for emergency care in our region. “Next steps include further due diligence, design development and seeking planning approval for the new station.” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the

NSW Government was committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure to help support better health outcomes for local communities. “Our paramedics need the best possible workplace to provide emergency medical care, and this new station will make a real difference to their working environment,” Hazzard said. The Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program is the single largest investment in regional NSW Ambulance’s 126-year history. Twenty-four new or upgraded ambulance stations have already been delivered or are under construction as part of the $132M Stage 1. Another $100M worth of ambulance assets are being delivered under Stage 2 of the program. In 2021/2022, the NSW Government is investing $1.4B in NSW Ambulance. Construction on the new ambulance station is due for completion in 2022. Information source: Media release, Brad Hazzard Minister for Health and Medical Research

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Hunter Hendra detection calls for vigilance

A new deadly variant of the Hendra virus has killed a horse in West Wallsend, making it the first non-historical detection of the variant in a horse in NSW and the southernmost Hendra detection ever recorded. Hendra virus is a zoonotic disease hosted by native flying foxes and can be transmitted to horses. Infected horses can pass it on to humans, and it can be fatal. The detection of the virus was confirmed through testing at the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute laboratory and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. A vet attended the West Wallsend property in response to a report that a horse showed neurological signs of infection. CSIRO scientists recently uncovered the new genetic variant (HeV-g2) in flying foxes, confirming that the virus could be found across a broad region of Australia. The paper detailing the findings was published only days after the new variant was found in the West Wallsend horse. After monitoring flying fox samples from 2013-2021, researchers found the new genetic type in flying foxes from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Previous studies had only found the virus in flying foxes from Queensland and parts of NSW. Despite the virus being found in flying

A vet attended the West Wallsend property in response to a report that a horse showed neurological signs of infection Photo: CSIRO

foxes across Australia, CSIRO scientist Dr Kim Halpin said the actual transmission of the disease from flying foxes to horses had still only been reported in Queensland and NSW. “Because Hendra Virus Genotype 2 is so genetically similar to the original Hendra virus, there is a potential risk to horses wherever flying foxes are found in Australia,” Dr Halpin said. “It’s important to note that Hendra has never been reported to spread directly from flying foxes to humans; it’s always been transmitted from infected horses to humans. So we expect this new genetic type would behave the same way.” Equine Veterinarians Australia

President Dr Steve Dennis said the findings were a reminder for horse owners or people who work closely with horses that measures must be in place to help reduce risks of infection. “Owners and any people who interact with horses can reduce the risk of infection from Hendra virus and other zoonotic viruses through vaccination of horses or humans where available, wearing appropriate PPE, and seeking veterinary attention for sick horses,” Dr Dennis said. Another project called Horses as Sentinels, led by the University of Sydney and CSIRO, detected the same genetic type of Hendra virus earlier this year in samples collected from a horse in Queensland in 2015.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said these researchers were supported by Australian Government funding through the Biosecurity Innovation Program. “Researchers from CSIRO and the University of Sydney investigated laboratory samples from horses which were previously suspected of having Hendra virus but had all tested negative,” Littleproud said. “They found evidence of a novel virus, later confirmed as a new variant, and have now developed a diagnostic tool specific to detect it.” This new test has been developed alongside vets and laboratories to protect horses and prevent any spillover of infection into humans. Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the new test would greatly benefit frontline equine workers and veterinarians, helping to reduce infection risks. “This new test shows the practical application of this research and the science that underpins it, which could save lives,” Price said. “Horses that may have tested negative under previous tests can now be confirmed as positive Hendra cases, which allows the risk to be managed through the use of personal protection equipment and appropriate biosecurity practices.” More information for horse owners about the Hendra virus can be found at outbreak.gov.au. Hayley McMahon

Competition to decide who grows best Newcastle green thumbs have the chance to show off their handiwork in the newly launched Newcastle Garden Awards. Newcastle Garden Awards founder Michael Edwards said the idea had come from his role in the property industry. He found that people not only loved displaying their beautiful homes but their gardens as well. “There didn’t seem to be a platform to showcase the many spectacular gardens across the Newcastle region and, equally, the hard work, passion and dedication that is put in by their owners,” he said. Edwards said he had had a conversation with local gardening guru Judy Sharpe about the awards, and she had agreed to become a judge. “I’m delighted to have Judy on board,” Edwards said. “She is a highly regarded and popular figure within the Newcastle horticulture field and an experienced judge of the previous Australian Open Garden Scheme. “Judy will be joined on the judging panel by another industry stalwart in Brian Bird. “We are eagerly awaiting the first entries for the awards and the chance to start sharing the beautiful gardens of the region.”

Award for the Best Large Garden is one of the four categories Photo: Newcastle Garden Awards

Judges will be looking at all aspects of the garden. There are four categories, including Best Small Garden, Best Small Spaces Garden, Best Large Garden and People’s Choice. The Small Space category gives those Newcastle residents who live in apartments or townhouses with balconies and courtyards a chance to

enter. The judges will be looking for gardeners who have creatively maximised their limited spaces using planter boxes, ornaments and wall gardens. The People’s Choice Award gives the people of the Newcastle Region a chance to vote via social media for their favourite garden. Entries are now open and

can be submitted at www.newcastlesbestgarden.com.au. Finalists will be announced on November 15. Judges will conduct site inspections before announcing the winners on Thursday, November 25. Information source: Media release, Newcastle Garden Awards

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Photographer focuses on mental health

Matt Richards outside Mitch Revs Gallery with the print he is raffling to raise funds for Lifeline Hunter Photo: Supplied

A Newcastle photographer who has used his love of art and photography to help take control of his mental health is now encouraging others to do the same. During Mental Health Month in October, Matt Richards said he hoped to inspire others to improve their mental health and seek the right support to overcome challenges. After experiencing his own mental health struggles, Richards found comfort and connection through photography. He began by taking photos of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle’s beaches and ocean baths. Once friends took notice of his talents, he became inspired to take on the hobby a little more seriously. “I’ve worked hard on myself over the past three years, and with the benefit of a great support network, I have come out the other side,” Richards said. “The photography has helped me too. “I want to use my photography to get people talking about mental health and

to spread the message that, with the right support, people can overcome challenges. For people contemplating suicide, there is hope.” Working with Mitch Revs Gallery, Richards sells prints of his work, giving him tremendous support and encouragement to hone his newly discovered passion. He raised $10,000 last year for Lifeline Hunter after offering one of his prints as a raffle prize. And this year Richards is raffling off an oak timber-framed photograph he took of Newcastle Beach. “I have a fascination with the ocean, and this photo is of the water wrapping itself around the city,” he said. “To me, this photo symbolises how, as a community, we have worked together and got behind each other to get through the challenges of the COVID pandemic and come out the other side.” Meanwhile, the City of Newcastle launched its Healthy Hearts & Minds eight-week campaign to mark World Mental Health Day, which was recognised on October 10.

The campaign encourages the community to improve their physical and mental health while earning discounts that can be redeemed at local businesses. Healthy Hearts & Minds involves a series of active challenges, mindfulness programs and online workshops run through the Lean in Newy app, which translates good deeds into credits and discounts to use at 130 local businesses. Headspace Newcastle Community Development Officer Byron Williams said the campaign aligned with Headspace Newcastle’s theme this year of “small steps start big things”. “This is a great initiative that will encourage our community to prioritise their physical and mental health, whilst knowing they are doing something good by supporting small local businesses,” Williams said. “There are some basic things that are really important but obviously really easy to forget when someone is in the midst of depression or anxiety – exercise and getting outside is a big one, but also staying connected with friends,

family, school and work.” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Healthy Hearts & Minds program was a fun and innovative way to improve community wellbeing while providing direct economic support for small businesses. “Healthy Hearts & Minds is run through the Lean in Newy app and features a range of challenges which can be done at home or require you to get out and use a range of facilities across the local government area like exercise equipment and walking trails,” Cr Nelmes said. “Challenges include swimming 500 metres at your local pool, running on Bathers Way, doing push-ups at one of City of Newcastle’s outdoor fitness stations, and participating in a free online mental health workshop.” Lean in Newy is part of the City of Newcastle’s COVID-19 Community Economic Resilience Package. Download the Lean in Newy app free from the App Store. Hayley McMahon

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Re-write the story: trying new things is overwhelming

DANIELLE ABELL

GEORGIA LIENEMANN

This is the second part in our six-week series on the counterproductive stories we tell ourselves in the kitchen – those hurdles that mess with our mojo and prevent us from enjoying the process of cooking. This week we’re hearing from Danielle Abell from Lick The Plates and examining the belief that experimenting with or trying new things in the kitchen is ‘too hard’. Sometimes our kitchen routine brings comfort. You’re in the flow and you don’t need to think. You buy the same things every time you shop and cook the same dishes. It’s familiar and easy. And there are times when that same kitchen routine feels boring, monotonous and claustrophobic. You want a change, but you don’t know where to start. When you’re feeling the monotony, but also feel stuck, chances are you’re telling yourself a version of the story that “trying new things is overwhelming”. However, while you may feel overwhelmed trying new things, it doesn’t truly mean that it is overwhelming. One step at a time When you’re feeling the overwhelm, know that even the most competent

home cooks feel it at times! Generally, overwhelm kicks in when we get ahead of ourselves and spend more time stressing than actually doing anything. For example, you want to cook something new for dinner tonight, it’s 4:30pm and have no idea where to start. The next thing you know, it’s 6:00pm, you’ve gone down the Google vortex with 27 recipe windows open on your phone and not so much as an onion has been chopped. Cue meltdown. Cooking new takes planning

dishes

When you break it down, there are a surprising number of steps involved in cooking something new, so go easy on yourself:

1. Feel inspired to try something new 2. Decide what to cook 3. Buy the ingredients 4. Put aside time to follow the recipe and make the thing 5. Eat it (and persuade your family to try this new thing) 6. Use up or store the remainders of those new ingredients you bought. No wonder you feel overwhelmed! And what if you do overcome all of this and then the dish is a flop? All that wasted energy! Is the overwhelm actually a fear of failure? Maybe the overwhelm isn’t actually about the planning and cooking, but more about the fear of the

final dish. Do you worry that it will be a flop and can’t face all that wasted time and energy? That’s a completely reasonable fear! And let me tell you… it may be a flop. And that’s when your powers of creative thinking will kick in. Go back to last week’s article online on how to save a dish that didn’t turn out. There are some great tips in there. But the main thing is.. there are no failures! Just opportunities to reinvent. Tired of being stuck in a rut? Try this. 1. Avoid the online abyss and be inspired by real people instead Google can be totally overwhelming and bottomless. Instead, find an online community, or

even just a few friends, and share your kitchen successes (and failures)! Talk about what you’re cooking and share recipes and ideas. It is so much more fun cooking together, even if you are each doing it in your own kitchens. All you need is one idea to implement. 2. Set a realistic goal of cooking something new every fortnight If you like the structure of a challenge, set yourself one! But be realistic. One new dish a week may be too much, but once a fortnight is manageable. Or maybe one new dish a month sits better with you. Whatever it is, commit to it and plan ahead. 3. If you’re dealing with fussy eaters, start slow

A recipe for Garlic Gomasio (Georgia calls these ‘sprinkles’ in her kitchen) Adults and children alike love condiments, especially when it can be sprinkled. We like to use them to add a creative spin to a boring meal. Here is a recipe, which is meant as a springboard, not to limit you. Omit the garlic if you’d prefer and add in any other spices you’d like. Or keep it to just toasted sesame seeds and salt. Up to you!

Ingredients - 1 cup sesame seeds - 2 teaspoons good quality salt (Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt) - 1 teaspoon garlic powder Method - Heat a dry pan over medium heat. When pan is hot, add sesame seeds and move around for a few minutes until slightly

coloured. Don’t walk away from this step. - Move sesame seeds to a plate and leave to cool. - Once cool, add to pestle and mortar along with salt and garlic powder. Grind them together until slightly broken down. - Store in a glass jar and keep in the fridge. - Sprinkle over ANYTHING: rice, sandwiches, steamed vegetables, salads or eggs.

There’s nothing more discouraging than putting your energy into creating something new, only to have your children say, ‘yuck’. So, mitigate that risk. Try cooking new and interesting side dishes and keep the main part of the meal familiar. If your kids don’t want to try the new thing, don’t force them and enjoy it yourself instead. 4. Instead of a new dish, try a new ingredient Buying a whole list of new ingredients to make a complicated dish can be overwhelming, so instead try just buying one new ingredient a week and add it to things you’re already cooking. This is great practice in learning to use up what you have - a priceless skill in the kitchen. Furthermore, eating a diversity of foods is one of the best things we can do for our gut health. Danielle is an ex-picky eater turned food lover and founder of Lick the Plates. She is passionate about inspiring women to cook from scratch the oldfashioned way, but with modern equipment and techniques. She teaches cooking both face to face and virtually and sells Thermomixes, as the best kitchen tool to make it all possible. Find her at www. licktheplates.com and on most socials.

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Students encouraged to share bright ideas

The 2019 Hunter Young Business Minds award winners Photo: Supplied

Hunter students from school, TAFE and university will have the opportunity to gain funding and support for their business ideas and creative projects in the 2021 Hunter Young Business Minds Awards. Young Business Minds (YBM) is a local not-for-profit organisation helping to develop creativity and entrepreneurship skills in the region’s youth. The annual awards are back for a fourth year after being postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 YBM chairperson Cheryl Royle said

the awards were a way for young people to put their ideas to the test. “If anyone has a cool idea for a new business or product, a clever way to solve an existing problem or a creative project to benefit their community or school, they’d be crazy not to apply,” Royle said. “There’s no reason why young people can’t establish a successful business. For some, this may be a better alternative to traditional employment. “Some of the ideas and pitches coming in are amazing. In previous awards, we have had ideas such as a rope and strap winding aid tool, an

underwater and on-surface autonomous vehicle, a shackle and tow rope for 4WDs, environmentally friendly sunscreen and a reusable coffee cup with QR code.” Royle said students didn’t need a developed project or business plan, just a short video pitch outlining their idea or project. First prizes of $1000 and second prizes of $500 will be given to students in each category including primary schools, secondary schools, TAFEs, and the University of Newcastle (for under 25s). The Hunter Futurepreneurship

Program will support the winning students with free, ongoing, business support. Three prizes from Harvey Norman are also on offer to teachers and principals who are encouraging creativity, innovation or entrepreneurship in their students. The deadline for applications is November 14, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 2. For more information or to apply visit www.ybma.com.au. Information source: Media release

University and port plot student career paths The University of Newcastle and Port of Newcastle have signed a memorandum of understanding, helping to create future learning and career pathway opportunities for students. The organisations have pledged to collaborate across areas that focus on the region’s growth, economic diversification and social cohesion. Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody and University of Newcastle ViceChancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky signed off on the five-year framework. Professor Zelinsky said it was an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a high-performing organisation like the Port of Newcastle. “Through the Newcastle Institute of Energy and Resources, we will strengthen our work with the Port of Newcastle on new energy, including hydrogen, where I see huge potential for the region,” he said. “Our university is committed to this region’s economy. “Our research is critical for new industries, and our students will form the workforce for decades to come. “The University of Newcastle teaches

Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky and Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody Photo: Supplied

more than 39,000 students every year, and we need to prepare them for the workforce of the future. “This means allowing them to work before they graduate and to make sure we’re shaping new degrees to what the

region needs. “I’m also particularly excited about the opportunity for us to work with Port of Newcastle on initiatives that provide more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

in our community.” Craig Carmody said they would now be able to create career pathway opportunities for students at a local level and support the development of new economies. “Through this partnership, we will be able to identify collaborative opportunities in research and development, talent development and education, innovation programs, community engagement, diversity and new trades development that will be needed into the future to support the port’s diversification agenda and local industries as they evolve,” Carmody said. “Our port is already a significant driver of economic prosperity in the Hunter, and this partnership with the University of Newcastle will, through educational and integrated employment opportunities, inspire the next generations of port workers and ensure the region has several significant growth industries to create jobs in the near future and for our children in the decades ahead.” Information source: Media release, University of Newcastle

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Young minds working towards sustainable city Secondary students in the Newcastle area will be part of an innovative learning experience designed to create and develop a sustainable future for the city. The Sustainnovation Challenge created by local company MCB Business Partner is a program that creates opportunities for government and businesses to collaborate with educators and students, helping to solve the problems that matter most in their local communities. City of Newcastle announced last month their collaboration with the Sustainnovation Challenge project, delivered under council’s NewSkills and Living Lab programs. The program consists of four innovative challenges students will work through, including improving social inclusion and accessibility, dealing with plastic, planning for an ageing community, and preparing for a creative economy. Students from nine high schools, including Newcastle High, Lambton High, Hunter School of the Performing Arts, West Wallsend High, Merewether High, St Philip’s Christian College, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College and Big Picture Education Cooks Hill Campus, will attend a number of online workshops

Students from nine local high schools will participate in the Sustainnovation Challenge Source: Supplied

tackling the program’s four challenges over the next few months. The first two challenges of the program to be held in November and December will touch on innovative ideas around how the community can benefit from being a smart and accessible city and how a smart city should deal with plastic.

The students will be guided by mentors and specialists in different fields, teaching them applied innovation, system engineering and other developmental tools and principles. Program director Duncan Burck said ideas displaying the greatest smart city potential would progress to council’s

Living Lab accelerator program, which could eventually be implemented. “Applied innovation is a systematic process of creating ideas to improve or make something work better. It provides an opportunity to fast-track those things that will enhance our lives, communities and the environment we live in now and for future generations,” Burck said. “The more we listen to and encourage our young people to share their perspectives, the better the ideas and future decisions we’ll be able to make as a whole community.” Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said he was excited to see the opportunities this would present to the students, helping them shape the city’s social, economic and environmental future. “City of Newcastle is committed to leading the way in smarter living and creating a sustainable global future for the next generation,” Cr Clausen said. “The goal of the Sustainnovation Challenge is to empower young people to embrace a new way of thinking and acting, to help create a sustainable future across all sectors of our community.” Information source: Media release, Sustainnovation Challenge

Writers on the same page to foster productivity Budding and seasoned writers across the Hunter region are taking part in the 2021 National Novel Writing Month. Each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe embark on a writing journey, challenged to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel. Competition creators say the “daunting but straightforward challenge” is intended “to remedy a well-known writer’s problem: writing a novel alone can be difficult, even for seasoned writers”. “Writing can be a lonely profession. Having friends to share the experience with makes you feel a little more sane,” NaNoWriMo’s municipal liaison for the Newcastle region, Morgan Bell, said. She said the competition was a social network encompassing “people who can understand the challenges of producing a large-scale work little by little, day by day”. “Our community becomes a brains trust of resources and advice.” NaNoWriMo not only offers support socially, but the organisation said it encouraged individual improvement and development. “You develop both a daily writing habit and the first draft of a manuscript,” Bell said. “Proving to yourself that you can complete such a massive undertaking is a real confidence-booster.” The competition is regarded as “a start-up incubator for novels”, and Bell said the competition was “open to

everyone, from complete beginners to publishing veterans”. Within the competition, participants can join virtual writing sessions that consist of “writing sprints”, in which participants have 10 minutes to write as many words as they can. “It is the one writing challenge that is entirely about quantity and not quality,” Bell said. “You give yourself permission not to do it perfect the first time. That’s what revision is for.”

Writing volume is recorded via an honour system, whereby participants update their daily word counts on the NaNoWriMo website. The site generates a progress chart, and writers are awarded badges for hitting key achievements. NaNoWriMo said the aim was “to help writers track their progress, set milestones, connect with other writers in a vast community, and participate in events that are designed to make sure they finish their novel”. And it’s all free.

Writers across Newcastle have been participating in the competition since 2011, and since then over 800 residents have joined as members of the regional group. “Some may pop in and out over the years,” Bell said. “Many make it a yearly pilgrimage – if you join once you are a member for life.” In 2019, the Newcastle region had 105 novelists, 27 winners, and 2,070,585 words written. Over the years, the Hunter region has proven itself to be a successful writers hub. Several published children’s authors, romance novelists published with Mills & Boon and Harlequin, and at least one writer of contemporary fiction for Allen & Unwin hail from the region. The competition has evolved to run programs across 671 regions around the world, and empowers nearly half a million people each year to access the power of creative writing. Over 900 volunteers in cities such as Mexico City, Seoul and Milwaukee will coordinate virtual communal writing sessions. Best-selling novels that began as rough drafts in the competition include Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo. Established and budding writers from the Hunter, the Central Coast, and regional NSW are invited to join the “Australia: Newcastle” NaNoWriWo writers group and the companion Facebook group. Maia O’Connor and Hayley McMahon

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Artist Linnane draws on prison experiences Damien Linnane’s exhibition Broken Chains: Prisoners Unlocking Potential is at Wallsend Public Library Photo: Supplied

A Newcastle author, illustrator and podcaster used his time in prison to his advantage, helping to catapult him into a successful creative career. When Damien Linnane was 29, he was sent to prison for 10 months for crimes described by the sentencing magistrate as “vigilante action”. “There was no education and no therapy in prison,” he said. “I was assessed as too low of a risk of reoffending to be offered rehabilitation so I had to really fill the time myself.” Linnane believes his time in prison was the most productive time of his life. “I decided to start writing a novel, which was something I always wanted to do but never had the time on the outside,” he said. “You would be surprised what you can accomplish when you don’t have a lot of distractions.” Within the first five months, Linnane had completed his thriller novel, Scarred, which was published in late 2019. Linnane said he had struggled with depression in prison, finding himself lost after completing his novel and not knowing what to do with the rest of his time. “A guy in my block suggested I give drawing a go and gave me his sketch pad,” he said.

“It turned out to be something I was very good at.” Linnane spent the rest of his time perfecting his skills, drawing portraits and realistic sketches. After one of his drawings was published in a prison newsletter, he knew it was something he wanted to pursue. Linnane has since completed a master’s degree in Information Studies and works primarily as an archivist for Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre and as a cataloguer for Newcastle Library. Linnane also has a solo art exhibition at Wallsend Library titled Broken Chains: Prisoners Unlocking Potential, which features his photorealistic artworks of past prisoners and their accomplishments. The works, which can also be seen online through the Newcastle Libraries website, will be on display until the end of February. One of the people Linnane drew was Earlonne Woods, the co-founder of the Ear Hustle podcast. The podcast was the first to be made entirely inside a prison, initially recorded at San Quentin State Prison in California. After posting the portrait on Instagram and tagging Woods, Linnane said Woods reached out to him. “Next thing I know, I had a message from the publishing company Penguin Random House offering me a contract

to illustrate the book This is Ear Hustle,” Linnane said. “I couldn’t believe it; if Earlonne hadn’t sent me that Instagram message, I would have thought it was a prank email! “They gave me the concept ideas for the illustrations as well as photos. “All up, it was around 36 drawings and took me around six to eight weeks to complete. “The whole experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me explore my artistic boundaries.” This is Ear Hustle was released on October 19 and explores the complexities of life for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Linnane has been focusing on a podcast series funded by Newcastle Libraries where he interviews other people about their life, both inside prison and after release. In Broken Chains, Linnane and his guests explore different topics around the prison system, including modern slavery, life beyond prison, mental health and art behind bars. “When Newcastle Libraries asked if I wanted to turn my exhibit into a podcast, it really caught me off guard,” Linnane laughed. “I had never really done anything like it before, you know, interviewing people and podcasting. “But it’s been an excellent experience.

“We have a whole season one out, and I’m currently working on season two. “The purpose of the podcast is really just about raising awareness. “I want to inform people about the prison system and the problems that exist and are very often overlooked.” Linnane still finds the time to edit an international prison magazine titled Paper Chained, a journal of writings and artistic expressions from individuals around the world affected by incarceration. He is also working on refining the draft of his memoir, titled Raw. It’s an insight into his life and the events leading up to his time in prison. “I feel like my life could go in a few different directions next year,” he said. “I’m interested in doing a PhD and some deeper research into the prison system, and I have tentatively been offered an opportunity to guest lecture for a first-year Criminology subject at a Queensland university. “All of the opportunities and interesting things that have happened to me all weren’t planned, so I have no idea what’s next, but I am so looking forward to it, whatever it may be.” For more information on Linnane or to follow his journey visit his website at damienlinnane.com. Hayley McMahon

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CWA forges friendships while raising funds The Newcastle Evening Branch Country Women’s Association is helping to provide financial support to community organisations across Newcastle by hosting a range of fundraising events and activities. Newcastle Evening Branch CWA president Shaleigh Lennox said the branchhadfelttheimpactofCOVID-19, whichhadaffectedtheirabilitytohold fundraising events. However, this year’s setbacks didn’t stop the club’s dedicated members from thinking of safe and innovative ways to keep supporting the community and continue with fundraising efforts. “Our members are very clever and come from a range of diverse backgrounds and ages,” Lennox said. “It’s a really wonderful group of women who are wonderful friends because of it [the CWA], and we always welcome new members. “The CWA always aim to help local organisations provide ongoing support to the community. It brings our members joy to be able to support the activities of these local organisations.”

Some of the Newcastle Evening Branch CWA members at one of their community fundraising events. (L to R) Jill, Jan, Barbara, Hepsi, Melvene, Jessica, Shaleigh (President) and Phyllis Photo: Supplied

Mum’s Cottage is a not-for-profit community centre providing companionship and a safe place for mothers and families in the Hunter. It

also offers parenting and wellbeing programs. Sister Helen Anne from Mum’s Cottage said the Newcastle Evening Branch

CWA donations allowed her to provide additional support for women and families involved in their programs. She said she was grateful for organisations like the CWA, which enabled them to provide communitybased support to those who needed it most. Some other organisations supported this year include Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Nova for Women and Children, Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets, and the Country Women’s Association Medical Research Fund. The CWA is Australia’s largest women’s organisation. By supporting local, state and national causes, the CWA helps create change in the community while also creating a network of support and friendship. Newcastle Evening Branch CWA encourages people to contact the branch at cwanewcastleevening@gmail.com or stay up to date with future fundraising events on Facebook. Hayley McMahon

V for visionary in the fast-food realm The rise in popularity of vegan and vegetarian food was not lost on former food and wine magazine editor Mark Hughes. For years, Novocastrian Hughes noted a growing demand in the food and hospitality industry for meat-free and ethically sourced options, and he also recognised that while businesses were willing to make minor adjustments to their menus, none were taking the leap to offer vegan and vegetarian-only fastfood fare. At the age of 50, Hughes decided to quit his job, pool all his money together and open a vegetarian and vegan fastfood outlet in his hometown. That was two years ago, and Hughes’s hunch and subsequent hard work at the Islington cafe have led to a second Vego’s opening in Charlestown in the coming weeks. “Vegetarian and vegan food is such a growing trend, and no one was servicing the need,” Hughes said of the food scene not so long ago. “There are some good dishes at some restaurants and cafes in town, however, there was no fast-food option. “I decided to design a concept where anybody can enjoy vegetarian and vegan food. “I always had the idea there should be a vegetarian version of McDonald’s. “There should be a big green V everywhere there is a golden arch because I could see vegetarian and vegan food was a growing trend.” Hughes was able to source suppliers

Founder of Vego’s Mark Hughes Photo: Supplied

and the right ingredients to design his menu. “Over the last five years the quality of vegetarian and vegan food and products had significantly increased, so it was more attainable to source the right ingredients,” he said. In October 2019, Vego’s opened its doors on the corner of Maitland Road and Beaumont Street, Islington, and the response was overwhelming. Hughes designed Vego’s to offer cafe-

style sit-down and takeaway options, but in March 2020, COVID restrictions forced changes to the business model. “We needed to transition our business to strictly takeaway only, with a service area and offering our own takeaway service, along with working with food delivery services such as Uber Eats and Menulog,” he said. Vego’s has been embraced by the Islington community, and Hughes said the business had reciprocated.

“We help those in need every day, whether it is just a basic chicken burger or a drink, it is the least we could do for our community, especially in these times,” he said. “We have 18 staff members at Vego’s who all love where they work and love what they do. “They say this is the best job they have ever had because of the culture and ethics of the business and how much fun they have at work.” Vego’s will open its second cafe at 178 Pacific Highway, Charlestown this month, with a view to opening more in the not-too-distant future. “The goal is to have 20 Vego’s stores across Australia within the next five years,” Hughes said. When Hughes was designing the menu for Vego’s, there were more than 50 different vegan items from across the globe he wanted to include on the menu. The range is always expanding and includes burritos, burgers, wraps, fries, sweet potato fries, gozlemes, churros and coffee. With the prospect of future stores on the horizon, Hughes wants to expand the food and beverage menus to service a wider demographic. “The future of Vego’s is very exciting and the possibilities are almost endless,” he enthused. “My team and I are very excited for what is to come next.” Jayden Fennell

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CREATING FINANCIAL FREEDOM

How baby boomers are cashing in on meme stocks WITH

Julia NEWBOULD Managing Editor • Money magazine Baby boomers and Generation X are making money on meme stocks, while millennials are losing money on average, according to analysis from Openmarkets Group. The analysis covered 11 meme stocks - stocks whose share prices skyrocketed due to social media hype on Reddit, Twitter and Facebook - not fundamentals. Based on an evenly weighted basket of the 11 stocks, investors over 40 would have experienced an average gain of 1.29%, according to Openmarkets, with these stocks comprising a total of 3.8% of the share of their total trades.

This is compared to investors under 40, who would have experienced an average loss of 1.93%, with these stocks comprising 5.14% of their total trades. This means that the younger and less experienced traders who were acting with two times as much risk, their return was 2.5 times worse. Millennials were generally more likely to be duped and trade on the hyped status of these stocks, compared to their older counterparts. The 11 stocks selected for the analysis were 88 Energy (88E), Creso Pharma (CPH), Douugh (DOU), Lake Resources (LKE), Brainchip (BRN), Vulcan Energy (VUL), Digital Wine Ventures

(DW8), Zip Co (Z1P), Cirralto (CRO), Mesoblast (MSB), and Latin Resources (LRS). “With all the hype around meme stocks, it is no surprise that the younger traders and investors are getting caught up and caught out,” says Openmarkets chief executive Ivan Tchourilov. “And considering we are seeing the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history; this is a very worrying trend. We would advise caution, and for investors to research, seek professional advice, and gain experience before trying to time the market or make quick gains, especially in meme stocks. “This opens up a significant

need for scalable online advice solutions that can be provided to online investors in the comfort of their own homes by well-informed and experienced

advisers, brokers, and fintechs.” To develop this analysis, Openmarkets took an anonymised population of 600 customers from its Opentrader

trading platform and assessed their buys and sells. The split by age was 51% over 40 and 49% under 40. ELIZABETH MCARTHUR

Using the Future Fund as a default fund is not the answer NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg last month renewed calls for the Future Fund to become the default super fund for all Australians, which would provide workers with access to high returns and some of the best investment talent. Yet new research from Rainmaker Information, publisher of Money magazine, shows that could be a “fool’s errand”. Founded in 2006 and boasting $200 billion in assets under management, the Future Fund is the country’s wealth fund.

While its ostensive purpose is to help fund the whole of future Australia, its real purpose is to fund the future superannuation liabilities of Commonwealth public servants, forecast to be $428 billion by 2050. But comparing the Future Fund to a regular future fund is apples and oranges: it doesn’t pay tax, has no fund members, and isn’t constrained by the same laws and regulations. “Directly comparing the Future Fund’s investment returns to those of regular super funds is a fool’s errand,” says

Alex Dunnin, executive director of research and compliance at Rainmaker Information. “Nevertheless, the Future Fund’s 22.2% annual return for 2020-21 was a remarkable result. But Australia’s super fund sector also achieved remarkable results, delivering the best returns in 34 years.” While this return is exceptional, it would by no means put it on the top of the superannuation leader board. In fact, it would place it 10th. The top MySuper product this year was CBA’s Essential Super, achieving an amazing return of

26.5%. If the Future Fund’s performance was then corrected for the tax paid by other super funds, this relative performance would drop further still. It would also likely charge extremely high fees to members. “For one of Australia’s leading investment groups and biggest fund managers, with so much scale on its side, to have such high costs is perplexing,” says Dunnin. “There’s only a few MySuper products in Australia with fees so high. And let’s not forget that running a super fund equivalent of the Future Fund would come

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with even higher costs due to having to administer fund members, comply with the superannuation laws and act as a regulated fund.” Rainmaker estimates that if the government was to establish and run a national default MySuper product, based on the Future Fund’s current costs and the member fees charged by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, it would likely charge 1.3% per annum in annual fees. “Fees this high mean the Future Fund Management Agency, the public sector

agency that runs the Future Fund, would most likely create a bespoke indexed investment solution. This would probably be assembled on indexed exchange traded funds with very low investment fees,” says Dunnin. All told, a Future Fund dressed up as a MySuper product would probably perform as well, and cost as much, as to make the debate mute. He says that “as a MySuper product where all the investments are indexed, its performance ranking would slip to around the middle of the pack”. DAVID THORNTON

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It’s coming together, right now, for songstress Davis

Singer-songwriter and longtime Beatles fan Natalie Davis Photo: Ash Naylor

Singer-songwriter Natalie Davis will release her first EP on November 5. Music has been a huge part of 21-yearold Davis’s life for as long as she can remember. “I was always considered the black sheep of the family,” said Davis, who grew up listening to The Beatles. “My siblings were very active and sporty, and I was only interested in singing, dancing and putting on talent shows for my family.” Davis grew up in Bathurst in the Central West of NSW, where she enrolled in music lessons from the age of nine and vocal training from the age of 12. Once finishing high school in 2017, Davis enrolled in a Law degree and relocated to Canberra. “One semester into Law and I was bored to tears,” she said. “I hated it, and realised Law was not the right fit for me. “So, I decided to apply for a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle, was accepted, and I started my new degree the following year. “I was very lucky to receive support from my family, who have always said to me to do whatever I would like to do, and they will support me, and I have never regretted the change.” Davis has called Newcastle home for the past three years. Her partner, Ben, has recently relocated and is settling in well. Davis is eager to release her first EP,

Due Course, which will feature four original songs. “I decided on the title Due Course because it encapsulates not only my course work and university experience, but the idea that explores the complexity of our minds that are forever changing and evolving through different experiences, all in due course,” she said. “Hindsight allows us to gain an indepth level of understanding with everything we have been through. “Sometimes we don’t understand why things are happening, though in due course we start to gain a little insight, and I think that is what all songs represent in some way or another.” Davis wanted the EP to be relatable and for the audience to engage with the lyrics. Although Davis loves all songs on the EP, her favourite is Stargazing. “The songwriting process for Stargazing was seamless and easy to lay out,” she said. “I felt connected in terms of the lyrics, and it could not have been more authentic. “I would not change anything about it, and I cannot wait to release it as the final song on my debut album.” Music icons such as Joni Mitchell and Australian indie rock group Gang of Youths are inspirations for Davis as she loves their approach to songwriting and their creative and insightful lyrics. Davis’s biggest musical inspiration, however,

are The Beatles. “I am a diehard fan,” she said. “The love for The Beatles came from my parents, who influenced my musical upbringing. “If we ever went on a long family car trip, all we would listen to is The Beatles albums.” The Beatles have had such a big impact on Davis, she named her tuition school Marmalade Sky Music, referencing lyrics from Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Davis opened the school, at The Station, 110 Scott Street, Newcastle, in July this year. “I was previously teaching at a tuition school, which needed to close due to COVID and restrictions,” she said. “It was so hard at the time, and the students were sad to be leaving with the thought of finding another school, so I thought I would start my own. “I started the school by myself, offering singing and keyboard lessons, and now we are expanding with the inclusion of Chris Turner, who is a fellow musician and plays guitar, and is also in his final year of uni. We offer our students guitar, bass, drum lessons along with a digital workspace.” Davis plans to offer holiday workshops and vocal groups in the future, and said she owed her loyalty and support to the students. With the prospect of finishing her degree at the end of the year, Davis is turning her attention to growing the new business while her passion for

music continues to grow. “The thought of finishing uni and not knowing what to do next was a little scary before, though now with the business taking off and the option of expanding, building connections in the local industry, I cannot wait to focus on what I love every day,” she said. “I have a lot more in the tank and new songs that I want to churn out, along with focusing on gigging, events and hopefully travelling around Australia to perform.” Davis enjoys spending time on other creative hobbies such as painting, photography and unwinding by the ocean. “The ocean keeps me grounded, and I consider myself so lucky that now I live so close to it.” Davis regularly performs at The Great Northern Hotel, The Oriental, Lambton Park Hotel, along with the Homegrown Markets and the Fingal Twilight Markets at Fingal Bay. She also enjoys playing at private events, and she considers it an honour when someone enlists her to be the entertainment at their special occasion. You can purchase tickets to the live premiere of Davis’s Due Course EP at 48 Watt Street, Newcastle, on November 13 in the Event Space at nataliedavis.square.site. To keep track of Davis’s musical journey, follow her on socials @ nataliedavis_musician. Jayden Fennell

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Cahill scores scholarship to advance cricket career Aidan Cahill is a talented batsman and medium-pace bowler Photo: Bryce Garrett

Lambton cricketer Aidan Cahill has received a Basil Sellers Scholarship, allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming an elite cricketer. The 18-year-old Newcastle City Cricket Club member was only just selected in the Australian Under-19 World Cup Preliminary Squad and has now been named a 2021-2022 All-rounder Basil Sellers Scholarship recipient. The program awards scholarships to talented under-19 male and female cricketers, supporting them and their families with expenses such as education, travel and relocation costs. Cahill is one of 12 players awarded a scholarship in 2021-22, all having progressed through the Cricket NSW Pathway system, representing either NSW Metropolitan or ACT/NSW Country. “I’m humbled to be awarded a Basil Sellers Scholarship,” Cahill said. “It’s a very prestigious honour, and I am still shocked to have received it. “This scholarship means a huge

amount to my whole family, and it will certainly help my development as an aspiring cricketer and support my educational studies.” Cahill, a talented batsman and medium-pace bowler, took an impressive 37 wickets at an average of 12.92 in the Newcastle premier cricket competition last season. He has also featured prominently for Northern Districts in the Poidevin Gray U21 competition, where he scored 234 runs at an average of 46.80, including 115 runs off 67 deliveries against Penrith. Founder and philanthropist Basil Sellers said the scholarship would help the young cricketers on their journey to represent their country at the highest level. “The perfect cricketing all-rounder is not just someone who performs in the middle but understands the importance of personal development away from the sporting arena through education,” Sellers said. “By their actions, they are revered as role models and leaders amongst their peers, while conducting themselves in a

manner which is in keeping with the spirit of our great game. “I look forward to following the progress of this year’s recipients and encourage all to seize upon the support and opportunities they have been afforded as they look to follow in the footpaths of previous scholarship holders who have gone on to not only represent but captain Australia.” The new recipients take the total number to be awarded a Basil Sellers Scholarship since its launch in 2006 to 144. There have been 20 recipients who have gone on to represent Australia, including Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Stella Campbell and Hannah Darlington, and Test stars Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith. Cricket NSW Chief Executive Lee Germon thanked Sellers for his significant contribution to developing the state’s best cricketers. “Basil Sellers is one of the Australian sport’s most generous philanthropists, and his ongoing support of the state’s

emerging talent is not only appreciated by the recipients and their families but by the wider NSW cricket community,” Germon said. “His incredible generosity has supported the careers of over 140 of NSW and Australia’s finest cricketers, whilst reinforcing the importance of not only being great athletes but better people.” Hayley McMahon

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